obituaries

A Life Of Helping Others

Ronelle Grier
Contributing Writer

W

hen asked about the secret
to her longevity, Mary Fink
had a simple answer: helping

others.
"That very much defined her life:' said
her son, Herschel Fink. "She was a care-
giver and a devoted volunteer"
Mary Fink died Jan. 28, 2013, at the age
of 104. According to her son, she lived in
her own West Bloomfield apartment, with
the assistance of several devoted caregiv-
ers, until approximately a year ago, when
she moved to the Lakeland Center nurs-
ing facility in Southfield after suffering a
fall.
At the funeral service held at Temple
Beth El in Bloomfield Hills, Mary's grand-
daughter Dr. Sheri Fink recounted many
cherished memories: outings to the Fisher
Theatre, private jokes, holiday tables
adorned with linen and lace and laden
with homemade brisket and each family
member's favorite dessert — mandel-
bread, jelly rolls, and pecan and lemon
meringue pies.
Sheri recalled the family Miracle
Mission trip to Israel 20 years ago, when
her then-84-year-old grandmother made
it to the top of Mount Masada before the
others, despite being the oldest member
of the tour group.

SOPHIE AUSLANDER,
94, of West Bloomfield,
died Feb. 2, 2013.
She is survived by
her daughter and son-
in-law, Judy Auslander
and Irwin Kamm
of West Bloomfield;
Auslander
sisters-in-law, Florence
Gaynes and Jacqueline Fertell; sister,
Millie Charmer; daughter-in-law, Marsha
Auslander; grandchildren, Joni (John)
Alsfasser, Suzanne Auslander (fiance,
Dave Love), Kevin Meyer (Elisheva)
Auslander; great-grandchildren,
Jonah and Ari Alsfasser, Chaya Rochel
Auslander; many loving nieces, nephews,
other family members and friends.
Mrs. Auslander was the wife of the late
Irving J. Auslander; the mother of the late
Harvey J. Auslander; the sister of the late
Martin Shugerman.
Contributions may be made to
the Brown Memory Care Pavilion at
Jewish Senior Life. Interment took
place at Clover Hill Park Cemetery in
Birmingham. Arrangements by Dorfman
Chapel.

"She was a very special lady; my hero
and my inspiration:' said Herschel's wife,
Adrienne. "Her glass was always half full:'
Herschel agreed that, while genetics
may have played a part in his mother's
long life, it was her fundamental opti-
mism that enabled her to persevere
through the most difficult circumstances.
"Life was not easy for
her:' said Herschel. "She
lost two husbands and
eight siblings; she sur-
vived falls and broken
bones. But you would
never know from talking
to her. She always picked
herself up and went on;
she would never give up:'

Hard Times
Mary came to the United
States from Romania at
age 12. Times were hard
for her parents and their nine surviving
children; she dropped out of high school
to help support the family. As a book-
keeper for Hudson's and a local dental
supply company, she continued to work
well into her 70s, even lying about her age
to postpone having to retire. In her 50s,
she completed her high school education
and finally earned the diploma she was
unable to receive as a teenager.
Her first husband, Harry Katz, died

JACK R. BERMAN, 87, of Farmington
Hills, died Jan. 30, 2013.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Norma
Berman of Farmington Hills; son and daugh-
ter-in-law, Dr. Allen and Dr. Julie Berman of
Franklin; daughter and son-in-law, Dr. Sheryl
Berman (John Geiger) of Eugene, Ore.;
grandchildren, Sara (Nicholas) Postorino,
Jason (Laura) Miller, Benjamin Weinraub,
Dr. Michael (Robin) Berman, Stephanie
Berman, Allison Berman; many other loving
family members and friends.
Contributions may be made to Hebrew
Free Loan Society or to a charity of one's
choice. Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

SALLY CALFIN, 98, of Macomb, died Jan.
31, 2013.
She is survived by her son, Marvin
Marcus Calfin; daughter and son-in-law,
Elaine and Joseph Geffert of Macomb;
grandchildren, Jody (Cam) DiMarino,
Jeffery Rice, Norman Bean, Ronald Bean;
great-grandchildren, Gabrielle, Brianna,
Brock, Shaina, Max, Angela; many loving
family members and friends.
Mrs. Calfin was the wife of the late
Herbert Calfin; sister of the late Gertrude
(the late William) Rapoport; the stepsister

when Fink was pregnant with Herschel.
A few years later, she met and married
Irving Fink, who passed away in 1975,
and formed close relationships with his
children, Paul and the late Joyce Gold.
"She was fiercely independent:' said her
son. "She hated to ask people to do things
for her:'

Dedicated Volunteer
After her official retire-
ment, Mary became a
full-time volunteer. She
earned recognition from
Beaumont Hospital for the
years she spent counsel-
ing families and patients
and serving as a volunteer
chaplain. She worked in
the snack bar at Meer
Apartments and helped out
at the gift shop at Temple
Beth El, where she was a
longtime member. In 1997, she received
an 8 Over 80 award from what is now
Jewish Senior Life for her years of dedica-
tion to the community.
In honor of Mary's pre-100th birth-
day celebration, Pulitzer Prize-winning
journalist Sheri traveled to Romania to
do research for a comprehensive video
documentary of Mary's life. The result
was an in-depth and heartfelt production
that included old family photographs

of the late William Lipman.
Contributions may be made to a char-
ity of one's choice. Interment took place
at Machpelah Cemetery in Ferndale.
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

WILLIAM DARMON,
82, of West Bloomfield,
died Jan. 29, 2013.
He is survived by
his wife of 56 years,
Suzy Darmon; son
and daughter-in-
law, Paul and Cheryl
Darmon
Darmon of Farmington
Hills; daughter, Lynn Darmon of West
Bloomfield; grandchildren, Zachary,
Mollie and Samantha Darmon, Daniel
Levitin and Alexandra Levitin; sister,
Denise Allal, of Canada; brother and sis-
ters-in-law, Lucien and Eliane Darmon of
West Bloomfield, and Odette Darmon.
Mr. Darmon was the dear father-in-law
of the late Andy Mesrobian; the loving
brother of the late Raoul Darmon; the dear
brother-in-law of the late Victor Allal.
Interment was at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery. Contributions may be made
to Michigan Humane Society, 30300

and documents, historic footage and
first-person interviews wherein Mary,
who was 96 when the filming took place,
provided details about the stories behind
each photo.
"My mom was a resilient person:' said
Herschel. "Her attitude toward life helped
contribute to her long life:'
Mary B. Fink was the beloved wife
of the late Irving Fink; dear mother of
Herschel (Adrienne) Fink, Paul (Idene)
Fink, and the late Joyce Gold; loving
grandmother of Dr. Sheri Fink (Dr.
Edward Broughton), Marc (Inna) Fink,
Eric Ruby, Steven (Amy) Fink, Susan
(Bruce) Adelman, Lynn (Bill) Taylor,
Debbie Fink and Fred Gold; mother-in-
law of the late Annette Fink; 10 great-
grandchildren.
Mary was the last surviving sibling of
the 13 children born to parents Jacob
and Anna Berghoff. She is also survived
by her loving and devoted caregiver
Philaneice Cain, as well as many other
loving caregivers, nieces and nephews.
Interment was at Machpelah
Cemetery. Contributions may be made to
LUNGevity Foundation, 435 N. LaSalle
St., Suite 310, Chicago, IL 60610, (312)
464-0716, events.lungevity.org; or Jewish
Senior Life of Metropolitan Detroit,
6710 W Maple, West Bloomfield, MI
48322, (248) 661-1836, www.jslmi.org .
Arangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

❑

Telegraph, Suite 220, Bingham Farms, MI
48025, www.michiganhumane.org; or to a
charity of one's choice. Arrangements by
Ira Kaufman Chapel.

ENID GOLDENBERG,
87, of Oak Park, died
Jan. 28, 2013.
She is survived by
her sons and daughters-
in-law, Bill and Enid
Goldenberg of West
Bloomfield, Fred and
Goldenberg
Deborah Goldenberg
of Bellaire, Mich.; grandchildren, Aaron
(Michelle Goldstein) Goldenberg, Jenna
(Michael Kubiak) Goldenberg, David
(Nami) Goldenberg, Chad (Kate) DeWolf,
Elana Goldenberg; great-grandchildren,
Jack, Anna, Minna, Nathanial and Gali;
niece, Berna Ravitz; great-nephew,
Anthony Ravitz; many loving nieces, neph-
ews, other family members and friends.
Mrs. Goldenberg was the beloved wife
of the late Pincus "Pinky" Goldenberg.
Contributions may be made to a charity
of one's choice. Interment took place at Beth
El Memorial Park Cemetery in Livonia.
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

Obituaries on page 62

Obituaries

JN

February 7 • 2013

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