Annabelle Bean

Annabelle “Anna” Kebric (Kebrick), Goldberg, Gumbert, Bean, Alexandor

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Birth: July 18, 1894 in Odessa, Odes’ka, Poland/Ukraine

Death: June 25, 1968 in Victoria

Plot: Row C – Plot 41

Inscription:

פ׳׳נ
In Memory Of
ANNABELLE
Born July 8 , 1894
Died June 25, 1968
ELI BEAN
Beloved Husband of ANNABELLE BEAN
Born March 1, 1875
Died Feb. 22, 1940
יחיאל בר מרדכי
נפתר יג אדר תש
ת׳נ׳צ׳ב׳ה

Translation of inscription:

פ׳׳נ
(Abbreviation of Hebrew: “Buried here”)
In Memory Of
Annabelle
Born July 8 , 1894
Died June 25, 1968
Eli Bean
Beloved Husband of ANNABELLE BEAN
Born March 1, 1875
Died Feb. 22, 1940
יחיאל בר מרדכי
(Hebrew: Yechiel bar Mordechai)
נפתר יג אדר תש
(Hebrew: Passed away 13 Adar 5700)
ת׳נ׳צ׳ב׳ה
(Abbreviation of Hebrew: “May his/her soul be bound with the bond of life.”)

Biography:
Housewife, mother and active in the Jewish community

Annabelle, sometimes known as Anna, her brother and two sisters were born in Odessa, Poland/Russia/Ukraine. The family immigrated to the US in 1902, and by 1905 had settled in Portland, Oregon, where three more brothers were born. Annabelle’s mother died in Portland in 1912. Her father moved to San Francisco and in 1918 had another son.

Her parents, Rose and Benjamin “Bennie,” were married in July 1892 in Kovla, Russia/Poland. According to immigration records, their last name was Kebric or Kebrick. However, Bennie also went by Goldberg. The 1910 US census in Portland recorded their family name as Goldberg. It seemed that the male siblings used the last name Kebric. In his 1939 declaration of Intention of becoming an American citizen, Benjamin listed his last name as Kebric and included “(also known as Benjamin Goldberg).”

Annabelle married the clarinetist Morris Gumbert on August 26, 1910 in Portland. Their son, Harold Theodore Gumbert, was born on June 4, 1913. Annabelle’s name was listed on his birth certificate as Kebric Goldberg. Morris died in Portland on October 18, 1920.

At the age of 30, Annabelle Gumbert married the 46-year-old widow Eli Bean, of Victoria, on December 26, 1922. He had four children from his first marriage. According to the Victoria city directory, Eli was the proprietor of the Victoria Junk Agency from 1914-1922. Although his business is listed, there is no listing for Eli in the 1922 directories. Eli’s name reappeared in the Victoria city directory in 1924. In 1935, Annabelle and Eli were listed as proprietors of the Pacific Sanitary Rag and Victoria Junk Agency.

According to the 1931 Canadian Census, Annabelle Bean was 37 and living with her husband Eli and the 18-year-old Harold Bean and the 21-year-old Esther Bean. Esther was Annabelle’s step-daughter. Harold was her son whose name was recorded as Harold Theodore Gumbert both in his announcement of marriage and in his obituary. According to the census, Annabelle spoke, read and wrote in English, but could not speak French.

Annabelle hosted a number of parties that were described in the press, including a “very enjoyable New Year’s party” for 1925 at the family’s home on Wellington Avenue. On January 8, 1929, the Daily Colonist reported that Annabelle hosted a party at their home on Dallas Road to announce the engagement of their daughter Bertha to Rabbi Jack Levy. The Who’s Who of the Jewish community attended.

The Bean family lived at different addresses on Dallas Road, Wellington Avenue and Hollywood Crescent before Eli purchased a plot on the Northeast corner of Linden Avenue in May 1925. According to the Times Colonist on May 27, 1925, the property was sold for $1000.00. By 1935, the home address for the Bean family was listed as 15 Linden Avenue.

The Victoria Daily Times reported on March 9, 1935 that the city inspector issued a building permit to Mrs. Annabelle Bean for the construction of a five-room house to be built at 165 Cook Street at a cost of $2,965.

Annabelle was involved in civic and Jewish causes. On October 4, 1915 the Victoria Daily Times reported that Mrs. E. Bean pledged $37.50 to alleviate the conditions for the Jews of Poland and Russia; the lowest donation reported.

The Victoria Daily Times on October 18, 1930 reported that the “passing years” since the synagogue was built in 1862 had “worked havoc with its structure and dry rot has set in the timbers.” In response, the “ladies” of the congregation held a special event to raise money for the repairs. Bridge and whist matches were scheduled. Reservations were expected and players were asked to bring their own cards and score pads. Mrs. E. Bean was the general convener.

The Daily Colonist reported on November 29, 1941 that Mrs. A. Bean hosted a gathering of the Ladies Auxiliary of B’nai B’rith at her home, 15 Linden Avenue, to honor Miss Charmaine Cohen’s upcoming marriage. According to the Victoria Daily Times on March 7, 1946, Annabelle was the convener for a meeting of Victoria’s Infirm Women’s Home to discuss repairs and renovations to the front and back porch.

Eli died on February 22, 1940. On September 1, 1944, the Times Colonist reported that Annabelle travelled to Vancouver to attend the wedding of A.E. Alexandor‘s daughter Evelyn to Harry Weiner. A.E.’s brother Isaac “I.G.” Alexandor, of Berkeley, California was also in attendance. Annabelle and Issac had a small wedding in Victoria’s synagogue on December 25, 1945. According to the Victoria Daily Times, only immediate relatives were present. Following the ceremony, a lunch was held at the Royal Dominion Cafe, and a few guests were entertained at dinner at the Empress Hotel in the evening.

The couple then left for a trip to visit coastal cities. Upon their return, they would be living at 15 Linden Street. The 1946 edition of Victoria city directories recorded: “Isaac (Annabelle) furrier home 15 Linden”.

Annabelle outlived all three of her husbands and at least one of Eli’s children. Although her headstone recorded her name as Annabelle Bean, her death certificate listed her name as Annabelle Alexandor. She was buried in a double plot beside her first husband Eli and Isaac was buried in his own plot beside Eli.

Parents:
Rose Shochat (1892-1912)
Benjamen Kebric also known as Benjamen “Benny” Goldberg (1872-1942)

Siblings:
Celia Louise Kebric Joseph (1896–1997)
Bernie Kebric (1898–1941)
Eve Joyce Kebric (1900–1998)
Samuel Merlin Kebric (1905–1991)
Harry Locke Kebric (1907–1994)
Burt Morley Kebric (1911–1990)
Gabriel Goldberg born in 1918

Spouses:
Morris Gumbert (listed as her son Harold’s father Annabelle was 19)
Eli Bean (1875-1940)
Isaac Gershon Alexandor (1882-1964)

Children
Harold Gumbert (1913-2003)
*Harold’s birth certificate lists Annabelle age 19 as Kebric Goldberg
**On Harold’s the announcement of Harold’s marriage to Mary Schwabe, lists him as the son of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Bean. The wedding took place in Oakland, California

Step-Children (Eli Bean)
Bertha Bean (1900-1983)
Ethel Bean born in 1905
Max Bean (1906-1913)
Esther Bean (1910-1996)

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