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B

arbara Jean Woodell 
Melnik, 72, mother, 
grandmother, sister, 
aunt and good friend, was born 
Sept. 19, 1951, in Detroit and 
passed away on Nov. 19, 2023, in 
Houston, Texas, surrounded by 
her family and loved 
ones.
Barbara was 
raised in Oak Park 
and attended Oak 
Park High School. 
She received her 
B.A. degree in 
Russian language 
from the presti-
gious University of Michigan 
in Ann Arbor and an M.B.A. 
from Wayne State University in 
Detroit, a rarity in its time for 
women.
Barbara had a strong work 
ethic throughout her life, devot-
ing her time, energy and passion 
to varied careers. One of her 
more memorable jobs was driv-
ing a Good Humor ice cream 
truck during summer break 
while in college. Early in her 
career, she aided Soviet immi-
grants and, later, Vietnamese 
refugees assimilate to everyday 
life in the United States. 
She used her business acu-
men in multiple enterprises, 
co-founding Hou-Tex Metals 
in 1979 and later creating and 
managing her own travel agen-
cy, Vision Travel, in the 1990s. 
In more recent years, Barbara 
had the opportunity to work in 
a field that she was most pas-
sionate about, volunteering and 
helping others as the director 
of the non-profit organizations, 
R.S.V.P and Foster Grandparents 
Program; both provided seniors 
with opportunities to work with-
in their local communities which 
benefited them just as much as 
those they worked with.
Barbara always had a love of 
culture and world travel. One of 
her first exposures was a semes-

ter abroad in Leningrad, USSR, 
and after college graduation she 
spent a year in Israel after the 
Yom Kippur War, working with 
immigrants in the absorption 
center in Arad. She traveled to 
many parts of the world: France, 
Spain, Russia, Hungary, 
Czech Republic, England, 
Denmark and Norway to 
name a few. She loved her 
annual trips to Mexico 
having visited more than 
30 times over the years. 
She was also proficient in 
over five languages. 
She enjoyed watching 
sports, being a lifelong devo-
tee of University of Michigan 
football and, late in her life, a 
fan of the Houston Astros. In 
more recent years, she fell in 
love with genealogy and enjoyed 
tracing her family roots back 
to Bohemia, Poland and other 
Eastern European countries. Her 
greatest joy and accomplishment 
was raising her three successful 
children and the beautiful fam-
ilies they created. Barbara will 
be remembered for her lifelong 
devotion to family and helping 
others.
Barbara was preceded in 
death by her parents, Allan and 
Dorothy Woodell; and her broth-
er, Mark Woodell.
Barbara is survived by a devot-
ed family, including sister, Leslie 
Woodell Kaner (Roy Kaner); 
children, Ilan Melnik (Juliett 
Levy), Irit Busany (Jonathan 
Busany) and Ryan Melnik 
(Michelle Mizrahi); loving 
grandchildren, Sivan, Shayna, 
Sender and Segev Melnik, Ariel 
and Daniella Busany, and Galit 
Melnik; many nieces and neph-
ews.
In lieu of flowers, the family 
requests that donations be made 
to Hadassah at hadassah.org/
donate. A funeral service was 
held at Beth Jacob Cemetery in 
Houston, Texas. 

A Life Devoted to Helping

Barbara Melnik

DECEMBER 7 • 2023 | 77
J
N

the sister of the late Alex 
Blaine. 
Interment took place at 
Clover Hill Park Cemetery in 
Birmingham. Contributions 
may be made to ASPCA or 
St. Jude Children’s Research 
Hospital. Arrangements by 
Dorfman Chapel.

ROBERT 
GOREN, 92, of 
Beverly Hills, 
Mich., died Nov. 
27, 2023. 
He was a pio-
neer in the field of personal 
injury law. He practiced for 
more than 60 years and was 
liked and respected by his 
colleagues, opponents and the 
judges. 
He loved music, played 
ukulele and wrote numerous 
songs. He was an avid tennis 
player, a world traveler and a 
collector of artifacts and rare 
books. Most importantly, he 
was a loving and loved family 
man whose 58-year marriage 
gave him, at the time of his 
death, 16 descendants with 
more sure to come. 
Mr. Goren is survived by 
his sons and daughters-in-law, 
Gary F. and Sherry Goren, 
and Steven E. and Eva Goren; 
daughter and son-in-law, 
Nancy L. and Stephen Price; 
grandchildren, Anna Goren, 
Alexander Goren, Benjamin 
and Abigail Goren, Britani 
Goren, Sullivan Goren, 
Robert and Stephanie Goren, 
Sophia and Justin Gold, 
Stephanie Price, and Michael 
and Vivian Price; great-grand-
children, James Goren, Stella 
Goren, Delia Gold and Eloise 
Gold; nieces and nephews, 
Henry and Elaine Langberg, 
Kathe Langberg, Mark and 
Lois Langberg, Geoffrey and 
Alana Wise, and Susan Wise; 
brother-in-law and sister-
in-law, Richard and Diane 
Wise; brother-in-law, Harold 

Langberg.
He was the beloved hus-
band of the late Dr. Judith 
Wise Goren; the loving broth-
er of the late Helen Langberg. 
Interment was at Beth El 
Memorial Park. Contributions 
may be made to Wayne 
State University Law School, 
471 W
. Palmer St., Detroit, 
MI 48202, give.wayne.edu/
campaigns/37573/donations/
new?designation=law-
school; or Detroit Symphony 
Orchestra, 3711 Woodward 
Ave., Detroit, MI 48201-
2444, tickets.dso.org/support/
donate. Arrangements by Ira 
Kaufman Chapel.

LESLIE A. 
LOSONCI, 47, of 
West Bloomfield, 
died Nov. 21, 
2023.
 He is sur-
vived by his parents, George 
Losonci and Liliane Kreisman 
of West Bloomfield; sister 
and brother-in-law, Sara 
Losonci and Ariel Bashi of 
New York, N.Y.; aunts and 
uncles, Suzie Gross and Steve 
Cohen, Agnes and Keith 
Schare, Ilene Roberts, Hal 
Roberts; cousins, Lindsay and 
Aaron Scheinfield, Jamie and 
Michael Rager, Jessica and 
Chad Weaver, Julie and Kevin 
Jacobs; grandfather, David M. 
Roberts. 
Leslie was the loving son 
of the late Karin Roberts; 
dear grandson of the late 
Leslie “Laszlo” and the late 
Magdolna “Magda” Losonci, 
the late Marjorie Roberts. 
Contributions may 
be made to JARC, 6735 
Telegraph Road, Suite 100, 
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301; 
Holocaust Memorial Center, 
28123 Orchard Lake Road, 
Farmington Hills, MI 48334; 
Friends of Israel Defense 
Forces (FIDF), P
.O. Box 999, 
Walled Lake, MI 48390; or 

