Helen Newman

Helen Bennet Brainerd, or as she was more affectionately known, "Dear Sweet", was born and raised in Cleveland Hts, Ohio. She was the loving daughter of Norton and Marion Brainerd and the devoted sister of Charles. She attended Cleveland Heights High School where she was active in Girls Glee Club, Swim Cadets and the NNC sorority. After high school she attended Ohio Wesleyan University where she studied Elementary Education and became an active member of Delta Delta Delta sorority.

During the legendary snow storm of 1950, on the train back Ohio Wesleyan, Helen offered a handsome young man a cookie. Al Newman took that cookie and 4 years later, after Al returned from serving in the Korean war, they were married. They lived briefly in Reynoldsburg, Ohio before moving to Lakewood, Ohio. A family was soon to follow, and in 1956 Katie was born followed in 1957 by Jim.

Dear Sweet began her love of volunteering at this time. She would say volunteering is good for the soul. She joined the Junior League of Cleveland where she was active in the Liltin' Leaguers, a group of singers whose service project was to perform for groups such as retirement homes and group homes. She also volunteered for Goodwill, the Girl Scouts and held officer positions on various PTAs.

In 1961 Helen and Al moved their young family back across the Cuyahoga River to Cleveland Heights, back to a house on the same street on which she had grown up. Jenny arrived to complete the family in 1962 and soon Helen went back to work. She worked for over 22 years at Caledonia Elementary School in East Cleveland. For the first five years she was a dedicated teacher of the hearing impaired and eventually moved to the 2nd grade. She was known for letting the students stand on their desks just to show off their new pair of shoes. Teaching others, whether in the classroom or out, was what made Helen truly happy.

Dear Sweet stayed active in many activities the rest of her life. Some of those activities included curling at Mayfield Country Club, playing bridge, golfing with the 9 Holers at Canterbury Golf Club and with the Wiff-n-Poofs, and gardening with the Junior League and Fork and Hoe garden clubs. Her passion though was entertaining. She was fearless and could throw a party for 100 + people without even flinching. Her family has many fond memories of birthday parties and the family picnics in every season. Winter picnics at Squires Castle were made especially fun by grilling steaks in the freezing cold.

A devoted mother and grandmother she spent much of her time going to her children's and grandchildren's activities from sporting events to theatrical productions. Everywhere she went she greeted everyone with a smile, kind word and usually a cookie or piece of candy. Her love and dedication to her husband, family and friends has been an inspiration to all.

Helen B. Newman (nee Brainerd) aka "Dear Sweet", age 81 of Orange Village, OH. Loving wife of H. Allan Newman; mother of Katie B. Newman Burger (Joe) of Russell, OH, James A. Newman (Carolyn) of Moreland Hills, OH and Jennifer B. Barrett (Greg) of Moreland Hills, OH; grandmother of Brittany, Kristin, Bennet, Sam, Tom, Erin, Kaylee and Meeghan. The family prefers that those who wish may make contributions in her name to Goodwill, 408 Ninth St SW, Canton, OH 44707, or to the Church of the Covenant, 11205 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106, where Memorial Services will be held at 2pm on Saturday, January 18. Interment, Lake View Cemetery.


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