APRIL 8 • 2021 | 47

OBITUARIES
OF BLESSED MEMORY

FRANK AISHISKIN, 86, of 
Oak Park, died March 28, 
2021. 
He is survived by many 
loving nieces, nephews, 
other relatives and good 
friends. 
Mr. Aishiskin was the dear 
brother and brother-in-law 
of the late Ann and the late 
Tobi Goldoftas, the late 
Miriam and the late Sidney 
Rosen. 
Contributions may be 
made to a charity of one’s 
choice. A graveside service 
was held at Machpelah 
Cemetery in Ferndale. 
Arrangements by Hebrew 
Memorial Chapel.
 

IRWIN S. 
ALPERN, 84, of 
West Bloomfield, 
died March 26, 
2021. 
Irwin loved his 
family deeply and enjoyed 
the accomplishments of his 
wife, children, grandchildren 
and friends. He was a 
dedicated certified public 
accountant and adviser 
to many for more than 
60 years. He was a valued 
member of the Michigan 
Association of CPAs. 
Irwin was also an expert 
genealogist and was 
passionate about finding 
his own family history and 
assisting others in their 
searches. He always cheered 
his MSU Spartans. He was 
compassionate, caring and 
had a full-hearted desire to 
be of service to others.
Mr. Alpern was the 
beloved husband for 60 
years of Barbara (Sorscher) 
Alpern, Ph.D.; cherished 
father of Bernard “BJ” 

(Pyper) Alpern, Dr. 
Elizabeth (Dr. Michael 
Berkwits) Alpern and Marc 
Alpern; proud and loving 
zaydie of Hannah King, 
Samuel, Margaret and 
Charlotte Alpern, and Ava 
and Talia Berkwits; dear 
brother-in-law of Dr. Irving 
Sorscher; loving brother 
of the late Eugene Alpern; 
brother-in-law of Phyllis 
Alpern; devoted son of 
the late Philip and the late 
Blanche Alpern; son-in-law 
of the late Shirley Sorscher. 
He is also survived by many 
other loving family and dear 
longtime friends.
Interment was at Clover 
Hill Park Cemetery. 
Contributions may be 
made to Adat Shalom 
Synagogue, 29901 
Middlebelt, Farmington 
Hills, MI 48334, adatshalom.
org/tributes-make-a-
donation-in-honor-
or-in-memory; Jewish 
Genealogical Society 
of Michigan, P.O. Box 
251693, West Bloomfield, 
MI 48325, jgsmi.
org; or Jewish Family 
Service, 6555 W. Maple 
Road, West Bloomfield, 
MI 48322, jfsdetroit.
org. Arrangements by Ira 
Kaufman Chapel.

JOSEPH 
BRADLEY 
BECKER, 78, of 
Traverse City, 
Mich., passed 
away peacefully 
on March 27, 2021. 
He was born in New York 
City on Nov. 8, 1942, to 
Julian and Estelle (Kuklin) 
Becker. He graduated from 
the Bronx High School of 

continued on page 48

A 

federal program is 
working through the 
state funeral associa-
tions to reimburse funeral costs 
for those who lost a loved one 
to COVID-19.
Under the 
CARES Act of 2021 
and the American 
Rescue Plan Act 
of 2021, Congress 
authorized FEMA 
to provide finan-
cial assistance to individuals 
who incurred COVID-19-
related funeral expenses after 
Jan. 20, 2020.
Those who lost a loved one 
to COVID-19 can qualify for 
reimbursement of funeral 
expenses up to $9,000.
The Ira Kaufman Chapel is 
taking part in the program and, 
according to its funeral director, 
David Techner, letters corre-
sponding to death certificates 
are being sent out with infor-
mation on how individuals can 
receive this money. 
Techner says he’s willing to 
help any family from the Jewish 
community with this process, 
whether Ira Kaufman handled 
arrangements for them or not.
“I give the COVID-relief 
people credit for convincing 
the government this was a 
worthwhile expense,
” Techner 
said. “It’s a way of saying, ‘we’re 
really sorry for the pain caused 
by this.
’”
FEMA issued its program 
policy, including details such as 
eligibility and documentation 
criteria and the application 
process for how funds will be 

distributed to families. 
FEMA will only award 
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance 
for a deceased individual on a 
single application. If multiple 
people contributed to funeral 
expenses, they need to register 
under a single application. 
Applicants must have 
incurred the funeral expenses 
and applicants must be U.S. citi-
zens, legal residents, asylees, ref-
ugees or non-citizen nationals.
Applicants must provide a 
copy of the certified death cer-
tificate, which must indicate the 
death “may have been caused 
by” or “was likely a result of” 
COVID-19 or COVID-19-like 
symptoms. Similar phrases are 
also acceptable. 
Applicants must also pro-
vide proof of funeral expenses 
incurred. Documentation 
(receipts, funeral home con-
tract, etc.) must include the 
applicant’s name as the respon-
sible person for the expense, 
the deceased individual’s name, 
the amount of funeral expenses 
and that funeral expenses were 
incurred after Jan. 20, 2020. 
Eligible funeral expenses 
include transportation for up to 
two individuals to identify the 
deceased individual, transfer of 
remains, casket or urn, burial 
plot or cremation niche, marker 
or headstone, clergy or officiant 
services, arrangement of the 
funeral ceremony, use of funeral 
home equipment or staff, cre-
mation or interment costs and 
any additional expenses man-
dated by local or state govern-
ment laws or ordinances. 

David 
Techner

Up to $9,000 for past expenses 
provided under new U.S. program.

COVID Funeral 
Reimbursement 

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER