Judith Sommers The Funeral was held at The Davidson/Hermelin Chapel at Clover Hill Park, 2425 14 Mile Rd, Birmingham MI 48009 on Wednesday, 22 May 2019 at 11:00 AM. Rabbi Jennifer Kaluzny and Cantor Neil Michaels officiated. Click here to watch a video of the recorded service. Interment at Clover Hill Park Cemetery.
The family of Judith Sommers will be gathering through the evening of Thursday, May 23 at the residence of Lisa and Steve Gretchko, 969 South Glenhurst, Birmingham MI 48009 . The phone number is 248-540-6476. Friends are welcome on Wednesday immediately following the interment service through the evening, and again on Thursday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. Religious services will be conducted at 7:00 Wednesday and Thursday evenings. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Madelene and Ron Kepes, Lisa and Steve Gretchko and Lori and Bruce Abel; grandchildren Jenny (Nick) Spadafora, Beth (Brett) Wanamaker, Amy Abel, Brian Abel, David Gretchko and Benjamin Gretchko; great-grandchildren Kaiden Spadafora, Luna Spadafora and Maddox Wilson. Judy is also survived by her sister, Malverne Reinhart, her niece Janet Reinhart Hall and her nephew and niece Robert and Susan Reinhart, along with their respective children Elliott Hall, Melissa Hall, Adlai Reinhart and Julian Reinhart. Judy is also survived by her loving caregiver of several years, Karen McFarland. Judy was the beloved wife, for 69 years, of the late Norman Sommers. She was the daughter of the late Nathan and the late Hinda Gleiber, and the sister-in-law of the late Melvin Reinhart. Judy was born at the Hadassah Hospital in Haifa, Palestine in December, 1922. Her father, Nathan, came to America when Judy was six months old. Although Nathan expected to bring his wife and baby daughter to America shortly after he arrived, the U.S. immigration laws had become more restrictive and it took nearly 7 years before his wife and child could emigrate from Palestine to the USA. Judy was nearly seven years old when the family was reunited in Detroit. Judy was always interested in learning, public speaking and debate; she graduated from Wayne State University with a teaching degree. She taught at Hampton Elementary School in Detroit until her first child was born. In the 1960s, Judy went back to work part-time as a substitute teacher and, later, a math specialist, in the Detroit school system until her retirement in 1980. In retirement, Judy was a volunteer at the Detroit Institute of Arts, where she participated in the Arts to the Schools program and various other projects that enabled her to combine her excellent skills as a teacher and speaker with her love of art and culture. In later years, when Judy and Norman wintered in Florida, Judy volunteered at the Sarasota Public Library and the Ringling Museum of Art. It is suggested that those who wish to further honor the memory of Judith Sommers may do so by making a contribution to: Henry Ford HospitalClick to Visit Charity Website Temple IsraelClick to Visit Charity Website Detroit Institute of ArtsClick to Visit Charity Website Yad EzraClick to Visit Charity Website A Charity of Your Choice |