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Love Of Family And Flying Fueled Her Life

5

ylvia Granader, of West Bloomfield,
love for her family knew no bounds.
died Dec. 7, at age 96.
She volunteered with the Sheruth League
Sylvia led a remarkable life.
and learned Braille. She was a den mother
Her Aunt Jessie had a cof-
and go-to mom for school
fee shop near Detroit City
and sports events.
Airport and that is where
In the 1980s, Harry and
she first became fasci-
Sylvia fulfilled a lifetime
nated with flying. She saved
dream when they purchased
money for lessons, earned
a ranch in Gold Creek, Mont.
her pilot's license and joined
They built a home with a
the Civil Air Patrol, where
spectacular view of the sur-
she was the only woman in
rounding country. They
her class.
donated 87 acres to found
A graduate of Wayne State
Camp-Mak-A-Dream, a cost-
University with a bachelor's
free camp for children whose
degree in art education,
lives have been touched by
Sylvia was also a World War
cancer. The camp opened its
II veteran as a member of
doors in 1995 and has grown
the Women Airforce Service Sylvia Granad er
and thrived.
Pilots (WASP), a highly
Despite dealing with the
selective group of women
loss of her own physical
pilots. Those years were among the best
mobility, Sylvia was a tireless volunteer at
of her life, especially because that's when
camp. She spent every day in the Art Barn
she met Harry Granader, who became her
where her talents, training and generous
husband.
spirit will be remembered by the many
"Flying attracted me:' she said in a IN
campers who still sport the friendship
story in 2010. "In the clouds, it's as close as
bracelets they made with Sylvia's help.
you'll get to heaven without dying:'
In 2010, Sylvia celebrated her 90th
She never tired of talking about those
birthday — the same year she received her
days, and her family never tired of hearing
Congressional Gold Medal and became a
about them.
great-grandmother. As always, she was a
In 2010, Sylvia took her final flight when
trooper. She said she was somewhat sur-
she flew to Washington, D.C., where she and
prised to be having such a great year while
her WASP sisters were each awarded the
still mourning the loss of Harry in 2006.
Congressional Gold Medal for their service
Not too long after turning 90, Sylvia
to our country by President Barack Obama.
began to exhibit signs of dementia. She
Sylvia married Harry in 1943. While fully fought it as well as anyone could and was
vested in raising their five sons, she also
determined to stay in the house she and
found time to earn her MFA at Cranbrook
Harry built in 1952 for as long as she could.
Academy of Art. She was a talented tex-
She wasn't happy when the time came to
tile artist and wove a tallit for each of
move to Fleischman in West Bloomfield,
her sons to wear at their bar mitzvahs at
but when she got there, she enjoyed playing
Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak Park,
cards and bingo, the musical entertainment
where Harry and Sylvia were founding
and the beautiful birds in the lounge. She
members. After the boys were grown, there
made friends, particularly with Sarah, a
was room in her heart and her home for her Holocaust survivor. What different lives
granddaughters Stephanie and Rachel. Her
they led; but they had a strong bond and,

even though Sarah has a strong accent and
Sylvia could barely hear, they had no prob-
lem communicating.
When she had to move to the memory
care floor, Sylvia went with grace. She often
said the people there took very good care of
her. As usual, no complaints.
Dementia may have taken so much from
her, but her essential personality remained
intact. She was always happy to see visi-
tors, and she knew and loved her family
to the very end. She never stopped enjoy-
ing a good joke or reminiscing about trips
to Las Vegas or the cottage. The family is
grateful to all the kind and patient ladies
at Fleischman who took care of Sylvia and
kept her company.
Sylvia was the beloved wife for 63 years of
the late Harry Granader. She was the dear-
est mother of Alan (Rosellen Gliner), Neil
(Louise), Dan, Larry (Cissy Sims) and Gary
(Monique Balaban).
She also raised two granddaughters,
Stephanie Granader and Rachel Wessels,
who loved her as a mother. Her other
grandchildren include Jennifer Sawalha,
Heather Granader, Emma Rodriguez and
Gabriella Levy; and great-grandchildren,
Harry Wessels, Montana Wessels and Rocco
Sawalha.
She is also survived by her brothers-
in-law, Hadar (Lois) Granader, Ronald
Granader and Charles Grenadier.
Sylvia was the daughter of the late Mary
and Izzy Schwartz and was also predeceased
by her two sisters, Eva Tractenberg and
Eileen Leider.
Charitable contributions may be made
to Camp Mak-A-Dream, 121 W. Long
Lake Road, Suite 120, Bloomfield Hills, MI
48304, (248) 723-5575, www.
campdreammich.org .
Rabbi David Nelson of Congregation
Beth Shalom in Oak Park officiated at the
funeral. Interment was at Hebrew Memorial
Park in Clinton Township. Arrangements by
Dorfman Chapel. *

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DOROTHY
DUNITZ, 97, of
Franklin, died Nov.
14, 2016.
She was an art-
ist who possessed
a creative and
curious mind. She
Dunitz
studied ceramics
at the College for
Creative Studies,
and her work was exhibited at galler-
ies, shows and in publications. One
of her plates is in the collection at
the University of Michigan Museum
of Art.
Dorothy was also a dancer, sup-
porter of the arts and a lover of
music. She had a strong zest for life.
She was equally at home at the sym-
phony or at a smoky jazz club in the
wee hours. She sat on the boards of
the Detroit Music Hall and Archives
of American Arts and was involved
in many other artistic and civic
activities. She additionally enjoyed
world travel with her late husband,
Saul.
Mrs. Dunitz is survived by her
daughters, Judy Rosenberg and
Nancy Bruch; son and daughter-
in-law, Michael and Rae Dunitz;
grandchildren, Jeffrey and Candi
Rosenberg, Karen and Richard
Sweet, Linda Rosenberg, Dr. Jill
Jacobson and Dr. Joseph Molko,
Robin Jacobson and Joseph Billig,
Max Dunitz, Kate Dunitz; nine great-
grandchildren.
She was the beloved wife of the
late Saul H. Dunitz; the loving sister
of the late Dr. Milton Roth.
Interment was at Beth El
Memorial Park. Contributions may
be made to National Council of
Jewish Women, 26400 Lahser Road,
Suite 306, Southfield, MI 48033,
www.ncjwgds.org. Arrangements by
Ira Kaufman Chapel.

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66 December 15 2016 Obituaries

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