Helen C. Ziler

May 14, 1919 - June 11, 2016

Helen C. Ziler, 97 passed away in Downey on June 11, 2016. She was born in Baltimore, MD, on May 14, 1919, to Norwegianimmigrants Axel H. and Leonora C. Hansen. Helen grew up in Brooklyn, NY, and was graduated from Brooklyn College in 1940.

In 1941, she received a Certificate in Physical Therapy from Walter Reed General Hospital, the Army medical center in Washington, D.C. It was there that she met the love of her life, John C. (Carl) Ziler.

They were married in 1942 and moved to California in 1945. Helen was active in many Downey community organizations, holding board positions in, among others, the League of Women Voters, American Field Service, and Advocates of Multi-Cultural Harmony. She was also a docent at the L.A. County of Natural History for 18 years.

In 1969, Helen returned to the field of physical therapy, earning a master’s degree at USC and remaining there to teach in the PT department until 1978.

Following retirement, Helen and Carl traveled externsively and pursued their love of sailing in their small boat, the North Star. They had 57 wonderful years together, until Carl’s death in 1999.

Helen is survived by her children Lorna J.Polley, John S. Ziler (Laurie) and Frederick W. Ziler (Vibeke); her sister June Ghaffari; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.