obituaries 'A Life Well Lived' Esther Aliweiss Ingber Contributing Writer fell in love and stayed that way. A young soldier and his bride who discovered Europe in 1957 in a Fiat Spider convert- e've come to celebrate a ible." life well lived," said Rabbi They spent a year traveling the Tamara Kolton, officiating Continent. Judith taught second grade at the funeral for congregant Judith at an English-speaking school in Goren, Ph.D., of Beverly Hills. Verdun, France, where Bob was sta- Mrs. Goren, 79, a 25-year psycholo- tioned. They retained a lifelong rela- gist and honored poet, lost her six-year tionship with relatives of Judith's they battle with cancer on April 13, 2012. stayed with outside She was also a teacher, a world traveler, Paris. and a strong source of support for her Steven Goren said family and friends. his parents "were world Characteristically, Judith planned travelers at a time every aspect of the service held on when that just was not Sunday, April 15, at Birmingham done." They followed Temple in Farmington Hills, including Bob's lifelong interest her choice of eulogists: Julia Press, her in pre-Columbian ruins 1 best friend of 30 years; Steven Goren, to by traveling to sites I represent the three Goren children; and throughout Mexico, Rob Goren, to represent the nine grand- Honduras and elsewhere. children. They all came up to light a "They lived through menorah. Readings of Judith's own a major earthquake in Judith Goren poetry and prose enhanced the telling Guatemala, a car crash of her story. on a cliff in Greece and other adven- J .,. A native Detroiter born in 1933, tures," Steven said. Judith, a humanist Judith lived with her family on Virginia with her own views about spirituality, Park. She graduated from Hutchins always told people she experienced a Junior High School and Cass Technical sense of "something greater" when she High School, and then studied at Wayne visited Machu Picchu in Peru and the University. She earned her Ph.D. in Oracle at Delphi in Greece. psychology after raising three children The Gorens loved to attend the sym- with Robert "Bob" Goren, a personal phony. Judith's father, Herman Wise, injury and trial lawyer. was its publicist after being music crit- A friend introduced the couple at ic for the Detroit Free Press. She became a campus eatery nearly 60 years ago. a writer, too, authoring five books. They Bob said he offered Judith a lick of his included three books of her poetry, ice cream cone. They knew they were one book on psychology and a recent meant for each other shortly after see- memoir, At the Edge: A Jewish Outsider ing a production of Romeo and Juliet. Finds Her Way, essays about growing up In a poem Judith wrote for Bob's 65th outside the core Jewish neighborhoods birthday that was read at the service, of Detroit. Bob said her poems were Judith reflects, "Inside these bodies published in major poetry journals with ridiculous numbers attached to and included in several "best poetry" them live a couple of college kids who anthologies. She received awards from W FRESH MARKET wwvv.JohnnyPomodoros.com 32906 Middlebelt Road, Farmington Hills (at 14 Mile) 248-855-0007 the Detroit Women Writers, a profes- sional group. Judith also taught creative writing for a time at the Community House of Birmingham. She was proud that her student Judith Guest wrote the bestsell- ing book Ordinary People. It became a Oscar-winning movie directed by Robert Redford and starring Mary Tyler Moore. Aside from her career, family meant everything to Mrs. Goren. Steven said she gave them uncondi- tional love. Rob said all nine grandchildren were a priority, and she regu- larly visited those living outside Metro Detroit. His "Meema" read to them, encouraged them to keep journals and "attended every play, every event, every birthday?' Rob knew "she could be trusted with even the deepest secret." Bob said his wife didn't cry when a biopsy confirmed that the suspicious mass on her lung was stage-4 bronchio- loalveolar carcinoma (BAC), an unusual form of lung cancer. With the help of dedicated doctors, the BAC was kept at bay for many years following her fatal diagnosis. New advanced cancer-fighting drugs brought about a complete remission of the disease for about three years — precious time Judith used to work, write and share family milestones. "She set her goal of wanting to reach 80 years old," Steven said, but sensing she was out of options shortly before her April 5 birthday, announced to the family, "79 is good enough?' The matriarch's loved ones came to her bedside to celebrate her birthday party on March 31. Except for the oxy- gen tubing she needed, Steven said his mother thoroughly enjoyed herself and exuded a sense of peace. "She had a courage that would make a soldier proud;' he said. As Judith's recent poem "When the Time Comes:' read at the funeral by Julia Press, says: "I will know that it is time to go when the house I live in can no longer be repaired?' Also at the funeral, Rabbi Kolton read from a poem Judith completed in March: "I have it all. I'm satisfied. My life feels complete. I have loved and been loved. I'm a year away from 80. Dayenu. It is enough?' Mrs. Goren is survived by her hus- band of 58 years, Robert Goren; sons and daughter-in-law, Gary Goren of Alpena and Steven E. and Eva Goren of Franklin; daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Stephen Price of California; grandchildren, Anna Goren, Alexander Goren, Benjamin Goren, Britani Goren, Sullivan Goren, Robert Goren, Sophia Goren, Stephanie Price and Michael Price; brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Diana Wise of Bloomfield Hills; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Helen and Harold Langberg; nieces and nephews, Henry and Elaine Langberg, Mark and Lois Langberg, Kathe Langberg, Geoffrey and Alanna Wise and Susan Wise. Interment was at Beth El Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to Birmingham Temple, 28611 W. 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334, www.birminghamtemple.org ; or LUNGevity Foundation, 435 N. LaSalle St., Suite 310, Chicago, IL 60610, http:// events.lungevity.org/goto/marionross- man . Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel. ❑ If you are not wearing it... sell Rm. r BORROW on it! You can't enjoy jewelry if it's sitting in your safe deposit box. Sell or borrow on it for immediate cash. We deal in jewelry, watches, diamonds and coins. Floral arrangements for any special occasion Our Bakery, Pre-ordered Fruit Trays and Dried Fruit and Nut Trays are supervised by Kosher Michigan sa=i4 . DELIVERY AVAILABLE Everyday • Special Occasions • Shiva 62 April 19 • 2012 Obituaries A Servic•_ to Private Owners, Banks & Estates Contact Li- , 33700 Woodward Ave< 244270- .