Biography contributed by Wendy Napier-Walker
Mrs Valvoi was born Helen Sandford on 7 June 1864 in New Zealand to John Sandford and his wife Esther Sandford nee Ryan.
Helen married William Lodge in 1881 in New Zealand. Helen and William had three children. Their third child, Emily was born in 1885.
William Lodge died on 30 May 1897 in Auckland, age 40 years. William is buried in the Waikumete cemetery, Anglican Division D, Row 2, Plot 91.
It is not known when Helen meet Jacob Valvoi, and whether they married. Their first child Alice Catherine was born in 1890. They went on to have a further five children.
Mrs Valvoi signed the 1893 Women’s Suffrage Petition in Te Kopuru, a saw-milling town.
Jacob Valvoi, Fisherman, born in Greece was issued Letters of Naturalisation in Helensville on 29 January 1894.
The electoral rolls for 1905–08 record Ellen Valvoi living in Edwin street, East Auckland; 1911–1922 she was living in Riordan’s Lane Central Auckland. By 1925 she had moved to 117A Nelson street and was living there until at least 1928. From 1931–1935 she was living at 31 Prime Road, Grey Lynn.
Jacob died on 11 December 1921 age 72 years at his residence 117 Nelson street, Auckland.
Helen (aka Ellen and Nellie) died on 18 June 1947 age 82 years and is buried in the Waikumete cemetery, Roman Catholic section, Division C, Row 18, Plot 76 with her husband, Jacob.
Sources
NZ DIA Birth Index 1864/23980 Helen Sandford
NZ DIA Marriage Index 1881/810 Helen Sandford/William Lodge
Letters of Naturalisation, New Zealand Gazette 1 February 1894, pg 168, Certificate Registration 31, Page No 129 – Jacob Valvoi
NZ DIA Death Index 1921/6123
Kaipara and Waitemata Echo 15 December 1921, pg 2
Auckland Star 11 December 1922, pg 1 – In Memoriam
NZ DIA Death Index 1947/20072 Helen Valvoi
Findagrave Waikumete cemetery
Ancestry Public Family Trees and New Zealand Electoral Rolls