About a month ago, my grandmother told us that she had decided that when she died, she would like not a funeral or a service but a web site! Yes, a 97-year-old who had never really used the Internet, did not own a computer, and still corresponded using felt-tip green pens wanted to be memorialized in cyberspace.
It's only fitting that she wanted such a modern remembrance, because she lived a modern and progressive life. How fitting that her last journal entry to herself expressed happiness at having voted for Obama. How thrilled she was when such a progressive candidate won the office. This year was one of triumph for her, seeing me married and settled in a new home, watching the Democrats win such strong victories in November, and spending quality time with friends and family.
While we grieve any loss, we should really be celebrating what a full and wonderful life she lived. We would like for people to use this blog to share memories. While we cannot all be together, we can create a virtual community to celebrate an extraordinary life.
Miriam
Aunt Helen's death brought to an end the Era of the 4 Kritzer sisters, "Aunts"to most of the rest of us. They included Bubbe Kritzer Grundstein Swack, May Kritzer Marks, Selma Kritzer Silverberg, and Helen Kitzer Serxner. they were all close family, but each one was adorned with a separate sparkling personality.
ReplyDeleteWe visited Aunt Helen and Uncle Joe in the 1960s in Brooklyn. At that time she introduced us to Adelle Davis and her Eating Lifestyle. Very large breakfasts with all other meals smaller and secondary. We never adopted the technique, but it seemed over the years that Aunt Helen thrived on it.
Aunt Helen was not only involved with the lives of her two wonderful sons, but was also knew intimately about the lives of all the cousins, including our 3 daughters. She kvelled with us over their accomplishments and offered very helpful suggestion when they needed support.
A local friend of ous, Peggy Brass, accidentally broke a limb while visiting in the Leisure World area near Aunt Helen. When we mentioed this to her, she immediately arranged to visit her in the Hospital and made her feel more comfortable and relaxed. Peggy still talks of Aunt Helen and her regard for her. Helen always volunteered her services to local organizations, especially to the Council of Jewish Women.
When Aunt Helen was dating Uncle Joe, Barbara remembers that she and Wally Green were included in dates during their courting days. She provided Barbara with her first Nursery Rhyme Book and actually sewed beatiful dresses for her to wear.
Aunt Helen was an avid reader and frequently discussed books that we were all reading.
We could go on and on, but needless to sy will will sorely miss Aunt Helen.
Barbara and Joe Lebovitz
I have several special memories about Aunt Helen. One, when I was planning to marry Doug, Aunt Helen and Uncle Joe arranged a dinner at Marchi's, their NYC standard, in order to check him out. And to welcome him. We all had a great time. And Helen told us what to eat.
ReplyDeleteHelen also serves in many ways as a touchstone of how we might age. Whenever we spoke or wrote (in green felt tip ink), she never focused on her health or the annoyances and problems of aging. Instead, I learned about the trips she took, the concerts she went to, the work she was doing for the causes she valued. I loved the idea that at 90 she was out there registering new voters, hoping they would vote "right" and get more Democrats elected.
Although I can remember Helen and Joe coming in from New York all the way to University Hts. Ohio to visit my family (the Walter Louis Greene family) with their very cool car, my best memories are when I visited them in Conn. with my dad. I got to know Joe and Helen much better as I was also much older! They were young at heart and Helen and I stayed in communication for quite awhile after that until the past couple of years. I, too remember the cards with the green ink and tales of all of her travels and "doings" in Calif.! She loved her grandkids and family was very important to her. She would always give my sister and me a call when she came into town! What a very, very, special lady! What an inspiration!
ReplyDeleteSuzy Mazur