The Packnadel gallery
In 2009 I had the chance to meet Adrienne Paknadel Powell who is the daughter of Marie (nee Bright) and Simon
Paknadel . On that day I also met her daughter Simmone who at the time was living in Switzerland. Adrienne
lives in Ottawa, Canada. This was a tremendous for me thrill to meet this wonderful lady
th
of 9 children, but got to Israel in 1939.
My grandfather Harris Bright, who I never met, because my grandparents divorced in the 30’s, was married to Chia Idel, called Ida. I
was 6 when she died, but I do remember her letting me comb her long white hair.
Well, they had 8 children. But the first 2 boys died at birth. Then they had Leonard, birth name was Leib, but when he went to the US
in his teens he changed it to Leonard. Next was Sophie, then my mother Sara. They moved from Poland to Paris, where Marie was
born. My mother told me that her father was a difficult man. Harris and family moved to London. They settled in Soho, the French
quarter of London, and they all spoke Yiddish, French and English! My grandfather had a tobacconists and newspaper shop, I think in
Wardour Street, and his was the first shop in the West End to sell Yiddish newspapers. Then Minnie was born, and after her was a boy
called Bernard. He was what they called a ‘blue baby’, meaning probably a hole in his heart, and he died on his first birthday, my
mother said. Minnie was named after Harris’s mother, my great grandmother – yours too?wife.. Mother also said that Harris had
nephews that were old men when he was a child. remember Mossy Bright very well, they used to visit us in Staines. About 65 years
ago I do remember him telling my husband , who was a Civil Servant, that he should leave the Ministry of Education and get a job
buying and selling. But no, he retired at 55, and has been receiving a Government pension, for the past 38 years! My husband Cyril is
93, and I am 88. We have recently become great grandparents! We have 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren.
My mother said that Harris was the youngest of 12 children and his mother was my great grandfather’s 3
I
Sophie and Marie married 2 brothers, Leon and Simon Paknadel, who were their first cousins. Their mother was a Bright as well, I
believe.
My mother said they came from Warsaw, but I now know that is doubtful, because I have been told that at that time Jews
were not allowed to live there. There is a town in the south of Poland with a name very like Warsaw where a lot of Jews
lived. We had an Israeli brother in law who was born there, the 8
Helen Lyons writes her family story. My deepest thanks to her for sharing this with us.
I remember Mossy Bright very well, they used to visit us in Staines. About 65 years ago I do remember him telling my husband , who
was a Civil Servant, that he should leave the Ministry of Education and get a job buying and selling. But no, he retired at 55, and has
been receiving a Government pension, for the past 38 years! My husband Cyril is 93, and I am 88. We have recently become great
grandparents! We have 2 daughters and 4 grandchildren.
Sophie and Marie married 2 brothers, Leon and Simon Paknadel, who were their first cousins. Their mother was a Bright as well, I
believe.
rd
wife..Mother also said
that Harris had nephews that were old men when he was a child
Brenda Dombey is my first cousin, Marie and Simon’s daughter. Her sister is Adrienne Paknadel – Powell, and she lives in Ottawa.
Stephen is Brenda’s son, and he lives in Toronto. I don’t have his email address, but you could email Brenda at
Adrienne is also interested in the family history, though her recollections sometimes differ from mine! She was the youngest in the
family and used to visit relations with her parents, whereas there were 4 of us, born over 10 years, so we were not usually taken with,
though I do remember going to Danny and Fanny’s sweet shop. During the war Aunty, as we called her, Fanny used to stay with us in
Staines to get away from the bombing. We did get bombed because they wanted to destroy Staines Bridge, but it wasn’t as bad as
London.
Chaya Idel , known as Ida and Harris Bright were the grand parents of Helen Lyons . Other grand children include Joanne Solomons,
Alison Wright . They were also great grand parents to Adam , Laura , Jonny and Alexandra . These precious photos were kindly provided
by Adrienne Packnadell
Packnadel & Bright complex family tree
(Click on document to view)
