obituaries

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A True Survivor

ir

he word "survivor" has become
rather trivialized — including
its co-option by reality televi-
sion. But if there is one notion that
characterizes Malka Dorfman it is this
— she was a true survivor.
When the Nazis invaded her city
of Kozienice, Poland, she was already
married with one child. She and her
first husband survived the Jewish
ghetto, yet suffered the loss of their
child there. She went on to survive
two forced labor camps, at the first of
which her husband was killed. After
liberation, she met and married Moshe
Dorfman. In 1946, despite the physi-
cal suffering her body endured during
the war, she gave birth to healthy twins
— Rena (Dorfman) Gritt and Gina
(Dorfman) Galin, who currently reside
in Southfield.
In 1949, Malka and Moshe immi-
grated to Israel, joining other Holocaust
survivors from Poland who comprised

GEORGE AARON, 93,
formerly of Huntington
Woods, died June 8,
2011.
He was the former
owner of Aaron build-
ers and a member of
the
Polar Bear Club
Aaron
at the JCC. He was
an avid swimmer, crossing the Detroit
River in his youth. In the Army he was
a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne.
He and his wife had been married for 70
years.
Mr. Aaron is survived by his wife,
Ruth; son and daughter-in-law, Jerry
and Ruth Spencer Aaron; daughters and
son-in-law, Judith Korby, Hillary and
Charles Bale; stepbrother, Myron Aaron;
grandchildren, Eryn Korby, Andrew
Bale, Kali (Danny) Venuti, Amy Aaron;
sister-in-law, Shirley Siefman.
He was the brother and brother-in-law
of the late Elenore and the late Phillip
Scheer.

JOYCE BAGLEY, 67, of Farmington
Hills, died Aug. 2, 2011.
A retired religious school teacher, she
was also a member of Temple Israel.
Mrs. Bagley is survived by her
daughters and sons-in-law, Julie (Ross
Sandelius) Bagley of Farmington Hills,
Lisa (Ben Quarmby) Bagley of Jackson
Heights, N.Y.; brother, Roger Collens of
Southfield; sister-in-law and brother-in-
law, Debbie and John Poponea.
She was the beloved wife of the late

52

August 11 . 2011

the 12 founding families of Ganei
Yehuda — a vibrant community in
existence today. To provide for her fam-
ily, Malka became a farmer, raising
cows, tending
to chickens and
planting an
orange grove.
Years later, at
the age of 44,
Malka gave
birth to another
healthy girl,
Tova Dorfman-
Schwartz,
who currently
resides in Ganei
Malka Dorfman
Yehuda.
In 1961,
Moshe joined the only surviving child
from his pre-WWII family, the late
Henry Dorfman, in Detroit, requiring
Malka to relocate and again adapt to
a new culture, language and climate.

William Bagley; devoted daughter of
the late Nathan and the late Elizabeth
"Betty" Collens.
Contributions may be made to
American Diabetes Association, 30200
Telegraph Road, Suite 105, Bingham
Farms, MI 48025. Interment at Oakview
Cemetery in Royal Oak. Arrangements
by Hebrew Memorial Chapel.

GILDA BARDEN, 87, of West
Bloomfield, died Aug. 4, 2011.
She was a secretary for the U.S.
Treasury Savings Bond Division.
Mrs. Barden is survived by her daugh-
ter and son-in-law, Jacalyn Newman
Simon and Jim Simon; grandson, Evan
Leonard Simon. She is also survived by
her son, Ivan Harmon; grandson, Jacob
Harmon.
She was a self-sacrificing caregiver
and devoted sister to her late brother,
Henry Stein, the last of her six brothers.
She was also the loving sister of the late
Irwin, the late Morton, the late Joel, the
late Bernard and the late Leonard Stein.
Interment at Adat Shalom Memorial
Park Cemetery. Contributions may be
made to the American Cancer Society,
20450 Civic Center Drive, Southfield, MI
48076 www.cancer.org . Arrangements by
Ira Kaufman Chapel.

SUSAN P. BERGER, 59, of Royal Oak,
died Aug. 7, 2011.
She is survived by her brother, Gary
Berger of West Bloomfield; nephews
and nieces, Scott (Marla) Berger, Shay

Obituaries

Despite her age, she learned English,
became a U.S. citizen and successfully
raised three daughters. After Rena
and Gina married, Moshe and Malka
returned to
Israel, enduring
the challenges
of reintegrat-
ing into a new
generation of
Israeli society.
After years of
independently
caring for her
ailing husband,
Malka was wid-
owed in 1986.
Malka later
helped Tova, and husband Raviv, build
a home behind hers and raise their two
sons. She also survived colon cancer,
two broken hips and a massive heart
attack.
Only a woman endowed with such

determination, tenacity and inner
strength could have endured such a life.
During the last 14 years, she was sur-
rounded by Tova's family next door and
loving relatives down the street — the
Ribos. She was also blessed with the
patient help, companionship and dedi-
cation of her caregiver, Narissa.
Malka Dorfman died June 29, 2011,
at the age of 96 — a longevity many
would envy. Despite significant chal-
lenges, she lived with dignity and
uncompromising commitment to fam-
ily. Her legacy continues through her
loving children, grandchildren, great-
grandchildren and extended family,
who are forever grateful for her devo-
tion and sacrifices.
Contribute in memory of Malka to:
Alin Beit Noam, c/o P.E.F. — Israel
Endowment Funds Inc., 317 Madison
Avenue, Suite 607, New York, NY 10017;
telephone: (212) 599-1260; website:
www.alin-beitnoam.org.i1/.

(Kristine) Berger,
Stacy (Paul) Berger-
Obryan; great-nephews
and nieces, Harrison,
Justin, Addison, Jaden,
Slone, Layla, Emma
and Ethan. She is also
survived by dearest
Berger
friends Brad Levin,
Peggy Persall and Angel Berger.
Interment at Machpelah Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to a char-
ity of one's choice. Arrangements by
Dorfman Chapel.

Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322, www.
jfsdetroit.org ; or Congregation Shaarey
Zedek, 27375 Bell Road, Southfield,
MI 48034, www.shaareyzedek.org ., c/o
Roxanne Stromer Scholarship Fund.
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

EUGENIA
BEZNOSOVA, 89, of
Oak Park, died Aug. 5,
2011.
She was a chemistry
professor in Russia.
Mrs. Beznosova was
also a Russian inter-
Beznosova
preter at Sinai Hospital
from age 70 until Sinai
closed. She continued taking Russians to
doctors' appointments.
Mrs. Beznosova is survived by her
daughter and son-in-law, Victoria and
George Nikiforov of West Bloomfield;
grandchildren, Simon and Naira
Nikiforov, Sonya and Jacob Griffin.
She was the beloved wife of the late
Simon. Alper; the loving sister of the late
Ella Brailovskaya.
Interment at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to Jewish Family Service, 6555 W. Maple

LORIS GRUNDFEST
BIRNKRANT, 92, of
Birmingham, died July
30, 2011.
She is survived by
her daughters and
sons-in-law, Janet and
Ellsworth Levine of
Birnkrant
Huntington Woods,
Sally and Richard A.
Myers of Florida; son, Don Birnkrant
of Colorado; sister, Janet Mayersohn of
Arkansas; grandchildren, Sarah and
Jonathan Jacobs, Sam Levine and Laurie
Blitzer; great-grandchildren, Jane, Kate
and Thea Jacobs, Jordana, Josh and
Aerin Levine; many other loving rela-
tives and her beloved Southern family.
Mrs. Birnkrant was the beloved wife
of the late Theodore D. Birnkrant; the
devoted daughter of the late Sam and
the late Mable Grundfest.
Contributions may be made to the
Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of
Southern Jewish Life, P.O. Box 16528,
Jackson, MS 39236, www.isjl.org/
contribute/donate/index.html;
Interlochen Center for the Arts,
4000 Highway M-137, P.O. Box 199,
Interlochen, MI 49643, www.interlochen.
org ; or Birnkrant Great-Grandchildren's