Remembering Florabelle Cherry z”l
November 12, 1932-September 9, 2014
“
The world just got
a little less interesting. Opinions will never be as strong,
arguments never as fierce, stories never as long since Florabelle
"Baubie" Cherry left this world the evening of September
9th. She was 81.”
Written by her grandchildren for her
obituary.
With a heavy heart I
write this tribute to the memory of a mentor and dear friend.
|
Beth Jacob Synagogue Board of Director 1980s:
Standing: Leonard Reinhorn,Fred Wolch, Noel Sandomirsky, Norm Bercovich, Van Isman, Michael Yaffe, Abe Ziesler Seated: Mendel Reiner, Florabelle Cherry, Nelson Sunshine, Jerry Birstein, Issy Steen, Lorraine Birstein, Toby Meirovitch
|
Our path crossed many
years ago while working on fund raisers for Beth Jacob, Regina
Hadassah WIZO and Sisterhood, or organizing other Jewish Community
events.
|
Honouring Mary Gettle
Standing: Bonnie Belzberg, Vancouver, Lorraine Martin,
Steated: Florabelle Cherry, Mary Gettle, Ellen Mossny |
During very intensive
baking days in the Synagogue kitchen, we had Mary Gettle on the team. Mary was one step ahead of us by coming in very early
on these days. Along with other volunteers we worked for hours,
planning, ordering, preparing, serving and cleaning up afterwards,
ending the days totally exhausted. However, we always had time to go
out to eat afterwards giving satisfaction of our toils. Florabelle
was the 'Counter'. Every thing had to be counted,
Hamantashen, matzo-balls, knishes, meat balls, chicken pieces and you
name it.
A quote from my
soon-to-be- published autobiography, 'Notes
and Clippings':
“Baking
for weekly Sabbath Kiddish, Community Passover Seders, Purim
Hamantashen, Hanukkah and luncheons. Keeping the kitchens kosher was
ongoing and with the helpful knowledge of Florabelle Cherry a
'How-to Keep The Kitchen Kosher' booklet was printed and hung in the
kitchen'
When Beth Jacob Community
moved to the new Synagogue Florabelle took up a position in the
hallway to direct traffic to where the boxes needed to be put.
Somewhere in the Beth Jacob archives there was a picture of her taken
with her arms out pointing in the direction.
|
Lorraine and Florabelle |
In 1999 Florabelle and I were nominated for Women of Distinction, sponsored by the YWCA. She was for her Regina Community Educational Volunteer work and I in Health and Wellness. We were truly honoured even if we did not make it to the short list.
Regina Hadassah-WIZO
would not have run as it did without Florabelle's input. She was on
every committee putting details to the projects. Her system was set
up to follow and boy did that make things run smoothly. When it came
to sending out the invitations she took the job of organizing the
labels and sticking them on the envelops.
Florabelle and I flew to
Toronto or Montreal to many Canadian Hadassah-WIZO National meetings
or to other cites to attend Conventions. We always shared a room.
When a third person shared with us, Florabelle and I shared a bed
rather than adding a small cot. I remember one time when
Glynis Mervitz was the third person. There we were settling down for
the night, Florabelle in her night cap and I with a sleep mask, in
one bed and Glynis in the other bed. I said a sweet good night to
Florabelle and started to laugh at the way we looked. It was such a
side-slitting laugh that Glynis did not know what to make of it.
Another time when Florabelle and I shared a room, she started to read
before going to sleep. Seeing her light was still on during the
night, I woke up several times. She was in the same position every
time and appeared to be still reading. When day light came she was
wide awake. I wondered if she slept in that position all night.
|
RHW 90th Anniversary 2012
R to L Standing: Clara Polster, Penny Wolfson, Marguerite Suchet, Roberta Swetlow, Sherril Brooks, Marci Frid, Helen Reiner, Marla Dan, President, CHW
Seated: Glynis Mervitz, Barbara Cutler, Naomi Lyman, Florabelle Cherry, Irene Farberman, Lorraine Martin |
Another quote from my soon-to-be- published autobiography'Notes
and Clippings'
“During
these past few years the members are ageing and fewer members were
able to step up to help keep the organization together. Fund raising
projects were kept few in number and simple to organize. Dinner
meetings are held in restaurant in order to keep the social aspect
and camaraderie up. The co-presidents, Florabelle Cherry and Roberta
Swetlow kept the chapter active.”
May 31 2015
Rabbi,
Cherry family and friends:
It
gives me great pleasure to be here today to honour the memory of
Florabelle Cherry z'l at Regina Hadassah-WIZO's Annual Campaign
Brunch. I
do appreciate being asked to give this tribute. I speak for so many
who knew her. There
is so much that can be said about Florabelle. Helping others was so
ingrained with-in her that her heart and soul was in everything she
did. Education was her field of interest. She came with a
great deal of knowledge, wit and humour. She was able to get cooperation because of her
experience as a teacher, including her knowledge and talent for
bringing out abilities and interests that were already within us, but hidden, and by mentoring rather than doing everything
herself. After her retirement as Special Educator with the
Regina Teachers Association she turned her energy to the Regina
Jewish Community. Many long hours were spent organizing, cleaning,
baking, teaching and whatever it took to get a task done. When
Florabelle asked for help specific instructions came with the
request. We especially felt this with-in Regina Hadassah-WIZO. Florabelle became very active with it's administration and fund
raising projects. She was always open to suggestions on how to
improve things. She could visualized how the best way to organize
a project. Florabelle held the chapter together over food. We
held many luncheon meetings and spend hours at a variety of Regina
Restaurants. She attended and participated in the decision making of
Canadian Hadassah-WIZO at the national meetings and conventions. She was well respected for her input. She gave willingly of her charitable money to help
the health and education of families in Israel. Her contribution
has been sincerely felt by so many.
I, for one, miss all the conversations and hard work
Florabelle and I had.
What cherished memories!