cious moment and nectar of life. It was her
history, and it was her destiny."
Stulberg compared her "Auntie Eva" to
a blazing torch — "that blaze of life that
burned in defiance of the fires of the Nazi
infernos; that glowed incandescently as her
light and the light of her parents, her broth-
ers and all her forbears incinerated in the
hell of the Holocaust."
Coming To Grips
Eva, one of five children of Blanka and
Nathan Brenners of Vasarosnomeny,
Hungary, survived the Auschwitz and
Bergen-Belsen death camps. Her parents
and two brothers, however, did not survive
Hitler's fury.
"She did vow to God in those dark,
dark days that she would devote her life to
bringing goodness to others — and she
did:' Pachter said.
In fact, she fasted every Thursday to
remind herself and others that strength
isn't just drawn from food.
Her husband of 35 years, Dr. John J.
Mames, a survivor of Russian labor camps,
died in 1989 at age 67.
Locally, Eva was a founding member
of Shaarit HaPlaytah (Survivors of the
Holocaust); her husband was a former
president. Together, they helped give rise
to the Holocaust Memorial Center, now in
Farmington Hills, and its oral history proj-
ect. They dedicated their lives to Holocaust
remembrance and education and helping
the State of Israel.
Pachter noted how Mrs. Mames "gave
honor to others and never asked for that
honor herself' That was clear at the annual
dinner of the Dr. John J. Mames Chapter
of the American Friends of Magen David
Adom (MDA). She never sat on the dais to
assure the limelight was on the honorees.
Their support over the years has enabled
the chapter to raise $22 million for MDA
for such basics as bulletproof vests, para-
medic scholarships and defibrillators. The
chapter has donated 240 ambulances.
It also has funded the Lillian L. and Allan
L. Waller First Aid Station and the Natalie
and Manny Charach Medical Center, both
in Ashdod. At its 2007 dedication, Mrs.
Mames said the Charach Center "is a state-
ment that reminds us that even in the face
of senseless death and destruction at the
hands of modern-day Hamans, we Jews
value life above all else."
John was a dentist and Krakow, Poland,
native. He and Eva provided the bedrock
for the chapter; she remained its president
and energy cell until her death, assuring
all money went to the cause. They were
devoted Zionists who founded the chapter
in the wake of the Six-Day War in 1967 to
support and save lives in Israel. They were
frequent Israel visitors.
Eva and John met in New York. John
had moved there via Heidelberg, Germany,
where he studied dentistry, and also Israel.
She came to America through the Hebrew
Immigrant Aid Society. When they moved
to Ann Arbor so he could attend the
University of Michigan School of Dentistry,
she helped support him by working in the
mental health field.
A Vast Landscape
Hadassah, the Israel Defense Forces,
the Zionist Organization of America and
the David-Horodoker Organization were
among Mrs. Mames' other affiliations. She
was a talented seamstress and freehand
artist. And she loved to cook.
Family was foremost for this mother
of two and grandmother of three. She
sent her children to Hillel Day School of
Metropolitan Detroit and enjoyed celebrat-
ing Jewish holidays with family. Shabbat
dinners were important. "She was the cohe-
sive member of the family:' recalled daugh-
ter Andrea Rosenblum of Atlanta.
Stulberg cherished her aunt's culinary
specialties. "More than that:' she eulogized,
"Auntie Eva passed along to me the joy of
cooking and the knowledge that it was but
a conduit to the much greater joy of bring-
ing together family and friends for meals
and laughter upon which a lifetime of smil-
ing memories are made."
Last year, Mrs. Mames
visited Israel with
A UST
1/0
daughter Andrea, son-
Su rtroR
in-law Craig and two
of their three children.
In honor of all her children and grand-
children, Mrs. Mames donated an ambu-
lance to MDA on that trip. In her eulogy,
granddaughter Sydni Rosenblum, 19, said:
"Spending time with you there and seeing
all the ambulances your chapter raised
money for to save people's lives really
touched my heart."
Mrs. Mames is survived by her son,
Dr. Robert Mames of Gainesville, Fla.;
daughter and son-in-law, Andrea and Craig
Rosenblum of Atlanta; grandchildren, Max,
Sydni and Jenna Rosenblum; sisters-in-
law, Belle Brenners of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.,
and Barbara Brenners of Tamarack, Fla.;
and many loving nieces, nephews, family
members and friends. She was the sister
of the late Bela Brenners and the late Larry
Brenners, and the sister-in-law of the late
Mary and the late Henry Rem.
Contributions may be made to American
Friends of Magen David Adom/Dr. John
J. Mames Chapter, 23470 Riverview,
Southfield, MI 48034, www.afinada.org.
Services were held on Dec. 14 at Kol Anche
Israel Cemetery, Green County, N.Y. Local
arrangements were by Hebrew Memorial
Chapel. I I
Obituaries on page 44
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We remember and mourn one of our founding Hospice Heroes
MR. IRVING LAKER
•
`7"i
Irving was one of the pioneering supporters of Jewish Hospice &
Chaplaincy Network, helping to launch and to foster an important
Jewish component to health care. Because of his vision, guidance and
leadership, our community can proudly say No Jew Is Ever Alone.
We are all better for having known him, and we will forever miss him.
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, BOARD, ADMINISTRATION, AND STAFF OF
THE JEWISH HOSPICE & CHAPLAINCY NETWORK
OFFER CONDOLENCES TO IRVING'S LOVING WIFE BEVERLY;
DAUGHTERS ANDREA LAKER AND KIM & GERALD FREID;
BROTHERS DR. GERALD & ELAINE LAKER AND MARTIN & RENEE LAKER;
AND HIS GRANDCHILDREN, NIECES, AND NEPHEWS.
WE ALSO OFFER OUR CONDOLENSCES TO THE MEMBERS OF
CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK
WHERE THE LOSS OF IRVING WILL BE PROFOUNDLY FELT.
MAY HIS MEMORY BE FOR A BLESSING.
The
JEWISH6SPICE
& CHAPLAINCY NETWORK'
'
Irving Laker
7 -7
One of the founding Hospice Heroes whose
vision for our community ensures
NO
JEW Is
6555 W. Maple Road • West Bloomfield, MI 48322 • 248.592.2687 • www.jewishhospice.org
EVER ALONE
1723610
Obituaries
December 22 2011
43