Obituary Collection: Aunt Gertie
I recently borrowed my father's copy of Will the Circle Be Unbroken?: Reflections on Death, Rebirth, and Hunger for a Faith by Studs Terkel. One of the last interviews in that book is with a woman who collects some of the "memorabilia" of death, including all sorts of mementos handed out late in the 1800s and early in the 1900s to mourners. In that vein, I no longer think it's particularly morbid to collect obituaries. Here is one from my father's maternal Aunt Gertie. My recollection is that at the time of her passing she was by far the oldest living relative on my father's side of the family. She was a short, tough lady. My paternal grandmother was her baby sister, and my understanding is that Aunt Gertie basically raised her.
As always, I copied her obituary from the funeral home's website.
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Gertrude Lillian Petrova passed away Sunday, December 26, 2010. She was the daughter of Ida & Abraham Sadoff. Gertrude fondly known as Gertie was born in Brooklyn, NY on March 21, 1914. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Charles S. Petrova, her daughter Ilene Barbara Vann, her son in law, Bill Hickman and her sisters Florence Kamras, Phyllis Kossover and Selma Stein. Gertie is survived by her daughter Beverly Petrova Hickman of Beaumont, sister, Evelyn Frank and husband Stan of Tamerac, Florida, grandson Marc Hickman and wife Rebecca of Boca Raton, Fl, granddaughter Cheryle and husband Dwayne Frye of Orlando, Fl. Grandson Charles Vann and wife Rabbi Allison Bergman -Vann of San Antonio, Tx, grandson, Ted Vann of Dallas, Tx and brother in law Jack Kossover and wife Judy of Tuxedo, N.Y. Great grand children Thor MacKenzie, Alana Frye and Alex Frye of Orlando, Fl and Issac Simon Vann of San Antonio, Tx. and numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Gertie moved to Lake Charles, La in 1951 and was a homemaker before joining husband Charles in his business, Lake Charles Window Cleaning Company and Commercial Janitorial Service. She was active in her daughter's lives and activities including being a Blue Bird and Camp Fire Troop leader, home room mother and president of their school PTA's. She was a member of Temple Sinai and a member of Temple Sinai Sisterhood and National Council of Jewish Woman and Hadassah. Gertie initiated a "one woman USO program" in Lake Charles and invited Jewish service man stationed at Fort Polk to attend Sabbath dinner in her home and to attend Sabbath services. Following her husband's death, Gertie moved to Houston in 1966. She was employed as executive housekeeper for Seven Acres Retirement Home. After her retirement she began a second career and became a medical transcriptionist for Sharpstown General Hospital. She was a member of Temple Emanu-El in Houston and served as President and Treasurer of the women's aux. for the American Jewish Veterans War Veterans She was also an avid bowler and was active in many bowling leagues. Gertie moved to Beaumont in November 2002 and resided at Collier Park Retirement community which was a haven of happiness for 8 years.
The family thanks Becky Ames and her devoted staff especially Evelyn Pileggi and Sharonda Frank for making Gertie's final years, happy years. The family also thanks Rabbi Taub and Lois Rutman and the entire Temple Emanuel family for their support, love and kindness and a big thank you to Gertie's favorite doctor, Andrew Barenberg for his compassion and friendship. A special thank you to the staff of Harbour Hospice for their expert care and kindness . Gertie will be missed by all for her quick wit, fabulous sense of humor and her zest for life and having a great time.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Temple Emanuel, Beaumont and Beaumont Community Players Visitation was held on Tuesday, December 28, 2010, at Forest Lawn Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 29, 2010, at 10:30 a.m., at Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel with a graveside service to follow at 12:15 p.m., in the Jewish section of Graceland Cemetery in Lake Charles, LA. Pallbearers are: Marc Hickman, Charles Vann, Ted Vann, Paul Hay, Dana Timaeus, Jerry McMillan and Doctor Andrew Barenberg. Honorary Pallbearers are: Nathan Swerdlow, Robert Lee Davis and Carl Weisenfelder.
As always, I copied her obituary from the funeral home's website.
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Gertrude Lillian Petrova passed away Sunday, December 26, 2010. She was the daughter of Ida & Abraham Sadoff. Gertrude fondly known as Gertie was born in Brooklyn, NY on March 21, 1914. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Charles S. Petrova, her daughter Ilene Barbara Vann, her son in law, Bill Hickman and her sisters Florence Kamras, Phyllis Kossover and Selma Stein. Gertie is survived by her daughter Beverly Petrova Hickman of Beaumont, sister, Evelyn Frank and husband Stan of Tamerac, Florida, grandson Marc Hickman and wife Rebecca of Boca Raton, Fl, granddaughter Cheryle and husband Dwayne Frye of Orlando, Fl. Grandson Charles Vann and wife Rabbi Allison Bergman -Vann of San Antonio, Tx, grandson, Ted Vann of Dallas, Tx and brother in law Jack Kossover and wife Judy of Tuxedo, N.Y. Great grand children Thor MacKenzie, Alana Frye and Alex Frye of Orlando, Fl and Issac Simon Vann of San Antonio, Tx. and numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Gertie moved to Lake Charles, La in 1951 and was a homemaker before joining husband Charles in his business, Lake Charles Window Cleaning Company and Commercial Janitorial Service. She was active in her daughter's lives and activities including being a Blue Bird and Camp Fire Troop leader, home room mother and president of their school PTA's. She was a member of Temple Sinai and a member of Temple Sinai Sisterhood and National Council of Jewish Woman and Hadassah. Gertie initiated a "one woman USO program" in Lake Charles and invited Jewish service man stationed at Fort Polk to attend Sabbath dinner in her home and to attend Sabbath services. Following her husband's death, Gertie moved to Houston in 1966. She was employed as executive housekeeper for Seven Acres Retirement Home. After her retirement she began a second career and became a medical transcriptionist for Sharpstown General Hospital. She was a member of Temple Emanu-El in Houston and served as President and Treasurer of the women's aux. for the American Jewish Veterans War Veterans She was also an avid bowler and was active in many bowling leagues. Gertie moved to Beaumont in November 2002 and resided at Collier Park Retirement community which was a haven of happiness for 8 years.
The family thanks Becky Ames and her devoted staff especially Evelyn Pileggi and Sharonda Frank for making Gertie's final years, happy years. The family also thanks Rabbi Taub and Lois Rutman and the entire Temple Emanuel family for their support, love and kindness and a big thank you to Gertie's favorite doctor, Andrew Barenberg for his compassion and friendship. A special thank you to the staff of Harbour Hospice for their expert care and kindness . Gertie will be missed by all for her quick wit, fabulous sense of humor and her zest for life and having a great time.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Temple Emanuel, Beaumont and Beaumont Community Players Visitation was held on Tuesday, December 28, 2010, at Forest Lawn Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 29, 2010, at 10:30 a.m., at Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel with a graveside service to follow at 12:15 p.m., in the Jewish section of Graceland Cemetery in Lake Charles, LA. Pallbearers are: Marc Hickman, Charles Vann, Ted Vann, Paul Hay, Dana Timaeus, Jerry McMillan and Doctor Andrew Barenberg. Honorary Pallbearers are: Nathan Swerdlow, Robert Lee Davis and Carl Weisenfelder.