DECEMBER 26 • 2019 | 47

Soul
of blessed memory
His Music Brought 
Peace and Unity 

ESTHER ALLWEISS INGBER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
E

very gathering was more 
joyous when Benyes 
“Ben” Opengeym was 
the entertainer or emcee. A 
professional musician, he sang 
in Yiddish, Hebrew, English and 
Russian, accompanying himself 
on keyboards and accordion. 
“Performing was one of his 
passions, and he treated every 
simchah (party) he 
played at as his own,
” 
said Rosa Chessler, 
who worked more 
than 25 years with 
Ben, her colleague 
and friend, at the 
Jewish Community 
Center in West 
Bloomfield and for-
merly in Oak Park. 
He was director of 
Russian Jewish Life program-
ming. He formerly was an 
activity coordinator at Teitel 
Apartments in Oak Park for 
Jewish Senior Life (JSL).
Ben Opengeym, 58, of West 
Bloomfield, died Dec. 12, 2019. 
Officiating at his English and 
Russian funeral service was 
Rabbi Yosef Mishulovin, co-di-
rector of Friends of Refugees of 
Eastern Europe, a Chabad con-
gregation in Southfield.
Born March 11, 1961, he 
immigrated to Detroit from 
Latvia. He came in 1991 with 
his wife, Alla, and their three 
small sons. A trained cosme-
tologist, he once owned two 
Fantastic Sams hair salons.
“Ben was very proud of 
believing in God and being 
Jewish,
” the rabbi said of his 
close friend. Through music, 
“he brought unity and peace 
within people.
”
“He had such high regard 
for Holocaust survivors,
” said 
Dr. Charles Silow, director of 

JSL
’
s Program for Holocaust 
Survivors and Families. Ben 
entertained at Cafe Europa, a 
monthly JSL activity for survi-
vors to socialize and hear Jewish 
music. “The survivors loved his 
enthusiasm, his zest for life, his 
warmth and his overall good-
ness.
”
Mishulovin called Ben a lev 
tov (a good heart): “He 
performed many times 
free of charge.
” 
The Opengeyms 
created an online 
GoFundMe page for 
covering expenses 
when Alla left work 
to care for Ben, who 
had cancer. Remaining 
proceeds will benefit 
Shtetl, their nonprofit 
that promotes Yiddish culture.
“He had a Jewish neshamah 
(soul). He was proud of our cul-
ture,
” Alla said.
“The only thing he did bet-
ter than music was being a 
father,
” eulogized son Gregory 
Opengeym. When family mem-
bers came from Riga, Latvia, for 
Thanksgiving, “We remember 
his mission was to create a 
joyful atmosphere for every-
one. His last words to me were 
l’
chaim — to life.
”
Ben Opengeym was the 
beloved husband of Alla; 
loving son of Max and 
Frida Opengeym; devoted 
father of Roman and Dina 
Opengeym, Gregory and 
Anastasia Opengeym and Boris 
Opengeym.
Contributions may be 
made to the gofundme.com/f/
ben-opengeym, or a charity 
of one’
s choice. Interment was 
at Clover Hill Park Cemetery. 
Arrangements by Hebrew 
Memorial Chapel. 

Benyes Opengeym 

EVELYN BERCH, 89, of Oak 
Park, died Dec. 15, 2019.
She is survived by her daugh-
ters and son-in-law, Ilene Berch, 
and Joni and Marshall Levine; 
grandson, Alex Levine. 
Mrs. Berch was the beloved 
wife of the late Harry Berch. 
Contributions may be made 
to the Alzheimer’
s Association-
Greater Michigan Chapter, 
25200 Telegraph Road, Suite 
100, Southfield, MI 48033, alz.
org/gmc. Arrangements by Ira 
Kaufman Chapel. 

SUZY DARMON, 
90, of West 
Bloomfield, died 
Dec. 16, 2019.
She is survived 
by her son and 
daughter-in-law, Paul and 
Cheryl Darmon; daughter, 
Lynn Darmon; grandchildren, 
Daniel Levitin, Alexandra 
Levitin, Zachary Darmon, 
Mollie Darmon and Samantha 
Darmon; sister and brothers, 
Elaine Bellhsen, Guy Mimouni 
and Gerard Mimouni.
Mrs. Darmon was the 
beloved wife for 56 years of the 
late William Darmon; the dear 
mother-in-law of the late Andy 
Mesrobian; the loving sister of 
the late Lucian Mimouni, the 
late Jacques Mimouni, the late 
Georgette Hayoun and the late 
Paul Mimouni. 
Interment was at Clover Hill 
Park Cemetery. Contributions 
may be made to Brown Adult 
Day Program, 6720 W
. Maple 
Road, West Bloomfield, MI 
48322, jslmi.org/donate; or 
Hadassah-Greater Detroit 
Chapter, 5030 Orchard Lake 
Road, West Bloomfield, MI 
48323, hadassah.org/detroit. 
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman 
Chapel.
 

ROSALIE DISNER, 79, of 
Scottsdale, Ariz., formerly of 
West Bloomfield, died Dec. 15, 
2019.
She is survived by her beloved 
husband, Charles Disner; son, 
Marc Disner; daughter and 
son-in-law, Lori and Douglas 
Soifer; brother, Alan Berlin; 
grandchildren, Matthew Soifer 
and fiancee, Lauren Blazofsky, 
Jennifer Soifer, Ariel (Adam) 
Amar, Elliott Disner, Jessica 
Disner, Joe Disner and Shane 
Disner; great-grandchild, Noa 
Amar; many other loving family 
members and friends. 
Mrs. Disner was the sister-in-
law of the late Barbara Berlin. 
Interment was held at 
Clover Hill Park Cemetery in 
Birmingham. Contributions 
may be made to Little Traverse 
Conservancy. Arrangements by 
Dorfman Chapel.

FRIEDA FAIGIN, 
95, of Southfield 
and Seattle, Wash., 
died Dec. 13, 2019.
She was active, 
like her mother, 
Dora, in activities in support 
of Israel, such as Na’
amat and 
Hadassah. She and her husband 
were active members of the 
Labor Zionist Movement for 
many years. She visited Israel 
on three occasions. She was 
also an active Democrat; the 
couple hosted fundraisers in 
their home for Congresswoman 
Martha Griffiths. 
Mrs. Faigin was well-known 
to her friends and family for her 
spunk and spirit, which kept 
her active and involved well into 
her 90s.
She is survived by her 
son, Gary Faigin; daughter-
in-law, Pamela Belyea; their 
adult children, Sarah Faigin 
and Benjamin Faigin; her 

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