48 | SEPTEMBER 16 • 2021 
 
 
 
 

GLORIA COHEN, 
100, of West 
Bloomfield, died 
Sept. 5, 2021. 
She is survived 
by her sons and 
daughters-in-law, Barry and 
Sherry Cohen, Gary and 
Marcia Cohen, Steven Cohen 
(girlfriend, Suzanne Gross), 
Ronald and Jackie Cohen; 
grandchildren, Eden (Andrew) 
Floyd, Shauna (Mark) Kocsis, 
Robyn (Kirk) Gold and Brett 
(Michele) Cohen; great-grand-
children, Austin, Savanna, 
Blake, Lexy, Alexander, Bradley 
and Caia; great-great-grand-
child, Yvie; sister, Bessie 
Ruskin; many loving nieces, 
nephews, other family mem-
bers and friends.
Mrs. Cohen was the beloved 
wife of the late Hyman “Hy” 
Cohen; sister of the late Sadie 
Aaron, the late Sam Simon, the 
late Hyman Simon and the late 
Martin Simon. 
Interment took place at 
Clover Hill Park Cemetery in 
Birmingham. Contributions 
may be made to a charity of 
one’s choice. Arrangements by 
Dorfman Chapel.

BARRY EISENBERG, 77, of 
Southfield, died Aug. 27, 2021. 
He is survived by his wife, 
Andrea Eisenberg; daugh-
ters and son-in-law, Abby 
Eisenberg of Riverdale, N.Y.,
Marcy and Yehudah 
Tatelbaum of Israel; brothers 
and sisters-in-law, Sanford and 
Lori Eisenberg of Southfield, 
Dennis and Terry Eisenberg 
of Bergenfield, N.J.; grandchil-
dren, Meir Tatelbaum, Yakir 
Tatelbaum, Techelet Tatelbaum. 
Contributions may be made 
to Farber Hebrew Day School, 
21100 W. 12 Mile Road, 
Southfield, MI 48076; Yeshiva 
Beth Yehudah, P.O. Box 2044, 
Southfield, MI 48037; Young 
Israel of Southfield, 27705 
Lahser Road, Southfield, MI 

OBITUARIES
OF BLESSED MEMORY

E

tka Goldenberg 
was born in Sadki, 
Poland, on July 26, 
1926. She passed away at her 
home in West Bloomfield on 
Aug. 28, 2021, at age 95.
Etka touched the lives of 
so many peo-
ple across the 
continents with 
her story of sur-
vival. When she 
was 13, Hitler 
invaded Poland, 
and her fight to 
survive began. 
She recalled her 
father crying 
out to her in 
the fields “Etka, 
when you live you must tell 
our story so that we did not 
die in vain.” That became 
Etka’s mission.
As the first docent at 
the Holocaust Memorial 
Center to share her story 
and speak as both a docent 
and survivor, she brought 
her story down to the level 
of eighth-graders when she 
looked at them and said, “I 
was your age when I started 
to run for my life, so don’t 
look at me now as the older 
woman talking to you about 
historical events. This was 
my life at the age of 13.” 
She shared her story at 
the middle schools, high 
schools and three times as 
a survivor on the March 
of the Living. Etka had the 
uncanny ability to describe 
to the youngsters so vivid-
ly the horrors of the Nazi 
inhumanity and despicable 
deeds. But her stories were 
replete with hope and a 
belligerent chutzpah with 
emphasis on the need to 
keep the Jewish hope and 

future alive. Hundreds of 
Hillel Day School students 
interviewed Gammy (as she 
was known to most), for 
their eighth-grade project.
Etka married Herman 
Goldenberg on Oct. 14, 
1945. They had an amaz-
ing love affair until he died 
suddenly on Dec. 29, 1986. 
They arrived in this country 
by boat from Hamburg in 
December 1952 with their 
son Zygi. They made Detroit 
their home.
Etka quickly immersed 
herself in life in Detroit. She 
graduated from Central High 
night school as valedictori-
an of her class. She became 
involved with B’nai B’rith 
Women, quickly moving 
herself up to president of the 
Louis Stone Chapter. 
She was Adat Shalom 
Sisterhood vice president for 
years as well as a supporter of 
Hadassah and other Jewish 
organizations. She was very 
proud of the fact that she 
volunteered for the Jewish 
Federation Super Sunday 
phone-a-thons as well as 
participated in the Women’s 
Philanthropy leadership pro-
grams. At age 88, she was the 
oldest graduate of the Melton 
Judaic Studies Program.
Her kugel making was 
historical. She taught young 
and old alike the secret to 
making her famous kugels 
that graced the Adat Shalom 
kiddush lunches. She attend-
ed services on a weekly basis, 
and when leaving synagogue 
she would say that “every-
one kissed me like she was a 
mezuzah.”
Etka had the gift of laugh-
ter in spite of the tragedies 
she endured. In her later 

years, she could be found 
holding court on the balcony 
at Meer senior apartments 
surrounded by everyone 
and anyone who wanted to 
engage with her. An avid 
mah jong player, she played 
weekly with the same group 
for 50-plus years. She was a 
force.
Etka is survived by her 
son and daughter-in-law, 
Zygi Goldenberg and Sally 
Olen of Seattle; daughter 
and son-in-law, Susie and 
Steve Feldman of West 
Bloomfield; grandchildren, 
Hannah and Gilad Biran of 
West Bloomfield, Max and 
Ally Farkas of Atlanta, and 
Vanessa Farkas of New York 
City; great-grandchildren, 
Eitan Biran and Benjamin 
Farkas; step-grandchildren, 
Stephanie and Michael 
Feldman. She is also survived 
by her loving caregivers, 
Irina, Oksana and Lyuobov. 
Mrs. Goldenberg was 
the beloved wife of the late 
Herman Goldenberg; dear 
sister of the late Herman 
Roth, the late Joseph Roth, 
the late Julius Roth; loving 
daughter of the late Selig and 
the late Bertha Roth.
Contributions may be 
made to Jewish Federation 
of Metro Detroit, 6735 
Telegraph Road, Bloomfield 
Hills, MI 48303; Jewish 
Hospice and Chaplaincy 
Network, 6555 W
. Maple 
Road, West Bloomfield, 
MI 48322; or Holocaust 
Memorial Center, 28123 
Orchard Lake Road, 
Farmington Hills, MI 48334. 
A graveside service was held 
at Hebrew Memorial Park. 
Arrangements by Hebrew 
Memorial Chapel. 

A Living Symbol of Hope

Etka 
Goldenberg

