The Gendler Girls from Memel
Naomi's 90th Birthday
Family Album
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Misc. photos
Leah Fink - Speeches
Read the speeches that were given at the Leviah of Leah Fink.
Arthur Fink - Son
"Thank you for coming to help dedicate my mom’s Matzevah.
It’s been a little over a year since Mom’s passing and I’m sure we’ve all thought about her a lot over the past year. She has certainly left an indelible imprint on all of our lives.
We all know about the many adversities that she had to confront in her life. Of course, the many years she suffered when the Nazis and with it, the loss of her parents, her sister, her entire extended family in Europe, the loss of her home and all of her material possessions. Then, the normal struggles of raising a family, of getting through severe financial difficulties, and of course, the loss of her dearest, precious daughter; my sister, Paula, which was by far the saddest event in her life. And then finally, the many years of declining health.
Yet, despite all this, Bubby was a personality of a force to be reckoned with. To the way she and Bubby was aware of what was going on in everyone’s life. But not just in a general way, she wanted to know details. And she gave advice, solicited or unsolicited.
Bubby had a group of very close friends, most of whom were also survivors. They became to her her extended family and it was sad for her in her later years, to hear of so many of them passing away.
But what was Bubby’s secret to keep on going? I never understood where she got the will to go forward and not dwell on her tragedies? I have heard her ask a rabbinical relative why G-d allowed the Holocaust to happen. But I never heard her ask, “why did this happen to me?” Her community of survivors took solace from each other in their shared loss. She did not, therefore, feel alone. Paula’s loss was different and struck at a much deeper place, because this was personal and she did feel alone.
Bubby was always thankful and had such Hakaras Ha’Tov for those who helped her in her life. She repeatedly would tell her children of the kindness that others had saved her. Especially of Evelyn and David Silver, and Dora and Rabbi Boruch Feivelsohn.
It is amazing that in spite of all she went through, she was not a bitter person. She was able to find joy in life. She was thankful that she was able to bear children and have a family. She was thankful to find a measure of security in America. She loved Israel and she and my dear dad spent many enjoyable months in Israel; soaking in the beauty and the atmosphere of a Jewish state. She enjoyed dancing.
My mom, daughter of Pearl and Joseph Gendler, sister of Naomi and Chaya Rivka, wife of Jacob Fink, mother of Paula, Helen, and Artie, grandmother and great grandmother, Holocaust survivor, triumphed over Hitler (may his name and memory be erased forever) and the Nazis (may their name be erased forever). She outlasted them, rebuilt a life like a phoenix, rising from the ashes.
May her soul be bound in the bond of life together with the souls of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah, and together, with the righteous men and women in the Garden of Eden."
Bubby (1920 – 2017) Speech
Written and delivered by Eli Fink - Grandson
"Bubby died Peacefully yesterday … 96 years young.
While it is impossible to fully describe a life that lasted over 96 years and spanned the most tumultuous events of Jewish and human history, I’ll simply touch on a few of Bubby’s more outstanding characteristics:
Bubby was a person who displayed …
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Incredible resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity –
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She experienced unspeakable horror and the full depths of Nazi depravity during the Second World War. Uprooted from her home in the Lithuanian city of Memel, she survived the dehumanizing conditions of the Kovno Ghetto and the infamous Stutthof concentration camp.
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She virtually lost her entire family in the Holocaust but, along with her sister, Aunt Naomi, ultimately outlasted Hitler and his henchmen.
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She suffered innumerable health problems throughout the years, repeated cancer treatments, hospitalizations, and painful surgeries.
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She lost her beloved daughter, Aunt Paula, in her late 70’s.
…and though some of these events tormented her to the end days, throughout all of this she maintained an indomitable spirit, an unceasing will to live, a steadfast refusal to completely emotionally crumble or wallow in self-pity, and she went on to raise a family in a new country in a new hemisphere, which now spans multiple generations.
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Bubby selflessly took care of Zaidy, her adored husband, for over half a century in his later years.
She cared deeply about her descendants – children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren – and always inquired about their academic and professional progress, their weight fluctuations, and romantic entanglements.
When receiving a call, Bubby would pick up the phone and say “vevee??” If it was one of her grandkids, she would greet them enthusiastically. However, if it was a telemarketer or an organization seeking a donation, she’d say, “I’m an old lady.”
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Bubby was a very genuine, very real person. She spoke her mind and freely articulated her views and opinions. She was a person who had high standards, including for her aids that kindly looked after her in her final years… could pull one past Bubby and not live to later hear about it.
She also held on to her autonomy tenaciously, and lived independently for as long as she could.
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Bubby was always appreciative of the assistance she received. This was especially true for the hundreds of food packages that my mother prepared for her over her last decade.
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Bubby was a devoted and formidable TV watcher. A particularly big fan of the Bachelor, Dr. Phil, and Judge Judy, Bubby very well may have logged a record-breaking number of viewing hours in her final decade.
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Above all else, Bubby was not an armchair philosopher. She was someone who continuously fought to make the best of the difficult hand she was dealt in life. She had a strong set of principles and values -- and she lived by them.
Bubby, we love you and miss you very much.
(pause)
I feel compelled to acknowledge my Dad’s decades-long efforts to help Bubby in every conceivable way, from chauffeuring her to and from family events, arranging VIP-level medical treatment, and seeing after all her numerous needs.
On behalf of the family, Thanks Dad."
2/19/2017
By Howie Falkenstein - Grandson
"There are many adjectives and words to describe my Bubbie: unique, one of a kind, Strong-willed, tough, stubborn, survivor, brave, passionate, fighter, hospitable— always offering food and drink when you come to visit her. Prideful, and loved her family; Artie of course being her favorite, undoubtedly.
I want to take you back to some of my memories that will give you all some insight into my Bubbie through my eyes.
My first funny memory was at Adina and Fred’s wedding in Chicago. I looked up on stage at the Badekin and I saw 2 Bubbies!! I couldn’t believe my eyes that there were two of them!? Bubbie and her sister, Aunt Naomi looked like twins and that’s when I got to meet Bubbie Junior and learned their story.
Albert’s bungalow in Monticello. My family and I loved spending numerous weekends with Bubbie and Zaydie up in the mountains. We went swimming. Bubbie made delicious breakfasts. It was a wonderful time.
Brooklyn—The Plastic on the couches, the grand piano. The candy jar, cookies in the oatmeal cannister, Bubbie’s delicious chicken soup. Zaydie sitting in the kitchen, in his chair, wearing his white undershirt and slurping Bubbie’s soup, and telling me “it’s good.” Bubbie speaking to him in Yiddish and all I could understand is “Jack…”
Some Bubbie-isms:
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“Eat! Eat!”
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“Vi Vi.”
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“Vos is Dos”
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“Veggie-Tables”
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Grabbing my wrist when talking to me… Boy was she strong!
Lawrence-Central Ave—Going to Traditions restaurant. Bubbie always telling the waiter there was something wrong with the food (usually it was not hot enough) and sending it back. The Bubbie Building. Hanging out with Bubbie in the TV room. Showing her pictures of the family on my phone. Going over each and every relative and getting updates on all aspects of their lives.
Purim Seudah of 2016 took place at Bubbie’s apartment. Auntie Helen was intown and Uncle Artie, my brother, and all the cousins were all together with Bubbie. It was a fun time and a happy memory. I’m glad we decided to have the party at Bubbie’s.
Last July 2016, Rachel and I brought both our children Pauly & Katie over to see Bubbie. They sat on her lap and you can see it brought tremendous joy to her face. It was an honor for me to give her that pleasure. I felt a piece of my mom, Paula, and my Zaydie was there with us at this time. It was truly a special moment that I will never forget. Rachel and I will also never forget how extremely hot it was in Bubbie’s apartment. Bubbie liked to keep the thermostat at a steamy 85 degrees!
Bubbie did not have an easy life but she persevered and overcame her hardships. Through her heroic actions during the Holocaust, saving the life of her beloved sister Naomi, Bubbie was responsible for the growth of the Fink, Kanter, Falkenstein, Jacobson, Aaron, and Stein families. Bubbie, you are a true Hero. We love you; we will miss you, but your legacy will live in forever.
You were truly one of a kind."
Joel's Notes
Joel Jacobson keeps a notebook of things his mother, Naomi remembers and writes them down. Here are the pages of the notebook.
***Note: This will eventually become its own page, with each page transcribed, for those who can't read handwriting that well. But for now, it's being put here.
