Helen Repa

Helena Marie "Helen" Repa (17 August 1884 – 21 November 1938) was a Czech American woman who rescued numerous passengers from the 1915 SS Eastland ship disaster in Chicago. Working as a company nurse for Western Electric, Repa worked for hours on what was ultimately the deadliest day in Chicago history. She then faded from history, never rewarded for her heroic deeds.

Helen Repa was born on 17 August 1884 in Chicago, daughter of Vojtech Repa and Katerina Strnad. She was the oldest of three siblings, Mary, Frances, and Francis. Three other siblings were born but none lived to adulthood… More on Wikipedia →