Helen Blumberg

Helen Levinson Blumberg, age 94, passed away on May 29th, 2018.   She will be missed by her children: Joan and Edward Wolochin, Gary and Bonnie Blumberg; grandchildren: Sherrie and Jeffrey Binder, Caren and Kevin Austin, Adam and Camila Blumberg, Andrew and Natalie Blumberg, Hayley and Dr. Jonathan Gerber; great-grandchildren: Rachael Genson, Stuart Genson, Eric Binder, Emily Binder, Alexander Blumberg, Anastasia Blumberg, Tahlia Blumberg; Niece: Kay Burin; Sister-in-law: Donna Blumberg.Helen was born in Dallas, Texas on July 27, 1923, but moved shortly thereafter to Menard, Texas with her parents, Abe and Rose Levinson, and her older brother, Sidney, where she grew up.  She loved her life in small-town west Texas where her father owned the grocery store used by the ranchers in the area.  The family never lost their Jewish roots.  She attended and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, and, while teaching at the University, met her Bill, a navigator in the Army Air Corps stationed in San Marcos.  After marrying in 1944, and the birth of their daughter, Joan, they moved to Bill’s native New York City.  When asked how a small-town Texas girl fared in the big city, she explained that the Blumberg family so very much wanted her to be happy there, that they did anything to make her comfortable.   But it was Bill who loved Texas and wanted to move back.  So, in 1948 they moved to Bellaire where Gary was born.  They lived a wonderful life with Bill in the advertising business and Helen raising the children.Helen was one of the first members of the Texas Children’s Hospital Auxiliary when the hospital opened; and continued to volunteer for over 50 years.  She loved her Fridays there and was well known by doctors, staff and the hospital administration.Sadly, Bill passed away in 1981 when Helen was only 58 years old.  However, she lived the rest of her life to the fullest, spending time with her family, her many friends, traveling the world and playing Mah Jongg and Bridge.  By her own account she was very good at both.  She also served in the Sisterhood of Congregation Emanu El and was on the Congregation’s Board of Trustees.Helen had an easy-going personality and live-and-let-live attitude, never uttering an unkind word about anyone.  She loved to discuss politics and to do crossword puzzles.  Friends were drawn to her so she had many, most of whom she outlived.  She truly missed each one.Graveside services will be held at 10:30 AM on Sunday, June 3, 2018 in the Kagan-Rudy Chapel at Emanu El Memorial Park, 8341 Bissonnet St. Houston, Rabbi Oren Hayon will officiate.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Congregation Emanu El, (www.emanuelhouston.org); Seven Acres Jewish Senior Care Services, (www.sevenacres.org) or the charity of your choice.