Obituaries Obituaries are updated and archived on thejewishnews.com A Woman Of Valor Esther Aliweiss Ingber Special to the Jewish News L ove can happen under the most unlikely circumstances. How else to explain the meeting of Regina and William Weiss, two orphaned survi- vors of the Holocaust? They were beshert — meant to be. In 1945, both were recuperating at makeshift hospitals for men and women across the street from each other in Germany. Bill was taking a stroll when Regina Rusinek spotted the handsome stranger outside her street-side room. Instinctively, she extended her hand and pulled him by his bushy hair through her open window. They wed a year later. Bill called his wife "Regina The Queen: A Woman Of Valor" until her passing on Feb. 20, 2010. The Weisses of West Bloomfield were 15-year, active mem- bers at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Township, where their friend Rabbi Daniel Syme delivered a moving eulogy at her funeral. Born May 13, 1926, Regina was the pam- pered, youngest child of Perla and Szlama, a kosher butcher. The eight Rusineks were among 6,000 Jews living in Dombrowa Gornicza, a town of 40,000 near Krakow. HERBERT A. APPLEBAUM, 84, of West Bloomfield, died March 5, 2010. He is survived by his beloved wife, Natalie Applebaum; sons, Steven Applebaum of Livonia, David Applebaum of California; daughter and son-in-law, Cheryl and Brayford Bobo of Arizona; sister, Jean Pate of Southfield; 11 grand- children; three great-grandchildren; many loving nieces, nephews, other family mem- bers and friends. The ghetto was liquidated in 1942, but Regina lived to make uniforms for the German army. In 1945, she and 300 fac- tory workers, ages 17-19, were relocated to a German concentration camp in northern Poland. Then the Nazis forced the girls to march to Czechoslovakia. Only 50 survived the five-week ordeal. Liberation brought access to food and shelter in Volary, Czechoslovakia, but 17 more girls perished. An American army chaplain, Regina Weiss a rabbi, trans- ferred Regina and others to Feldafing, a displaced per- sons' camp close to Munich. The Weisses had a son, Samuel, and were expecting Frederick, when their visa to America came through. They joined her cousin in Detroit, Kopel Rosen, arriv- ing Aug. 14, 1949. Bill, with his own shop, became direc- tor of tailoring alterations for Hughes and Hatcher men's store. Regina raised their children." "While Dad was working sometimes seven days a week, Mom would take me and my brothers to Cranbrook Science Museum and the Detroit Institute of Arts," said Dr. Michael Weiss, the youngest son. They also "experienced Jewish culture," as Bill put it, visiting Regina's cousins in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Vineland, N.J. When the boys were teenagers, Bill said Regina told them: "Instead of going out to work for money, you will work for me." That meant d UST she expected them to STIVATOR spend their free time reading books, her path to being edu- cated. "She saw to it that all of them were put through college," said Bill. Regina enjoyed her grandchildren, embroidering and knitting. She sewed much of her wardrobe, including party dresses. Never a driver, Regina rode buses and walked everywhere. Bill took the family to the beach on summer Sundays. As a couple, the Weisses went cruising and vis- ited Israel twice. Their favorite thing was speaking at the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills. "My mother connected especially well with all the youth groups," Michael said. "That was her passion." For the last two years, she'd addressed 150-200 juniors attending the University of Michigan. Observing his parents' 65-year mar- riage, Michael maintained, "I never heard them argue over anything." Bill's marital advice is "be nice to each other and help each other. And build a strong family." That, they did well. Regina Weiss is survived by her beloved husband, William; sons and daughters-in-law, Samuel (Wynne) Weiss of San Diego, Frederick (Mindi) of San Antonio, Texas, and Dr. Michael Weiss of Troy; grandchildren Emily, Ashley, Benjamin, Megan, Emma and Ethan. She also was the mother-in-law of the late Maria Weiss. Interment was at Beth El Memorial Park, Livonia. Contributions may be directed to the Holocaust Memorial Center, 28123 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334, www.holocaustcenter.org , (248) 553-2400; or a charity of one's choice. Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. _I Interment at the Adat Shalom Memorial Park Cemetery in Livonia. Contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. Barris Cook and Laurence Barris; great- grandchildren, Carly and Alissa; many other loving family members and friends. Mrs. Barris was the beloved wife of the late Seldon Barris. Interment at Fountainhead Memorial Park Cemetery in Florida. Contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. He was the founder of Rite Electric Company in 1945. He is survived by his dear children, Norman Cohen, Paula (Arni) Zalesin, Ilona Cohen and Beverly Cohen; devoted sister, Ruth Levin; loving grandchildren, Halli Zalesin, Aaron Cohen, Ashley Cohen, Stephanie Cohen, Leslee Milgrom; many loving nieces, nephews, other family mem- bers and friends. Mr. Cohen was the beloved hus- band of the late Constance Ann Cohen; grandfather of the late David Zalesin. He was well cared for these past 10 months by the loving staff at the Eiland's Assisted Living in Southfield. Services and interment at the Clover Hill Park Cemetery. Contributions may be made to the Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue, the Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy Network, the Alzheimer's Association or a charity of one's choice. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel. BIRDIE BARRIS, 97, of West Bloomfield, died March 3, 2010. She is survived by her sons and daugh- ter-in-law, Allen Barris of Birmingham, Ronald Barris and Maureen Heller of W. Palm Beach, Fla.; grandchildren, Stacy ORDER EARLY FOR PASSOVER Certi led Kosher or Passover PASSOVER TRAYS Candy Fruit & Nut Trays from $29.99 & up CANNISTERS from $13.99 & up Order by phone-Delivery available AMERICAN All selections are certified Kosher Pareve Manischewitz 3.49 each 70 March 11 • 2010 Gourmet 248-851-4450 6698 Orchard Lake Rd • W Bloomfield MI 48322 Obituaries KURT BAUER, 90, of Farmington Hills, died March 1, 2010. He is survived by his beloved wife, Elisabeth Bauer; sons and daughters-in- law, Jonathan and Peggy Bauer of Andover, Mass., Michael and Rhonda Bauer of Wayne, N.J.; grandchildren, Matthew Bauer, Andrew Bauer, Deborah Bauer, James Bauer. Contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, Memorials and Tributes Lockbox, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL 60674. Services and interment at Adat Shalom Memorial Park in Livonia. Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel. ISADORE "IZZY" COHEN, 92, of Southfield, died Feb. 27, 2010. ROBERT ESTON, 91, of Farmington Hills, died March 7, 2010. He was a bailiff in the Wayne County Circuit Court, handling landlord tenant cases for 45 years.