Leni Berger

Leni Berger, a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away surrounded by her loved ones on May 13, 2017 at the age of 90. She was born March 25, 1927 to Hedvig and Josef Bareinski in Wuppertal – Barmen Germany.  In 1938 at age 11, she was brought to America by the German/Jewish Refuge Committee which saved many children whose parents did not have the means to come with them.  One of 6 children, Leni, her twin sisters Sonia and Esther were the only family survivors of the Holocaust.Leni is survived by her son Jerry Berger and wife Kathy, her daughter Sandy Kirschner and husband Sonny Holbrook, 3 grandchildren, Jason Berger and wife Megan, Ronnie Kirschner and fiancé Beth Morris, Jennie Tannehill and husband Robert, 6 great-grandchildren, Madalyn, Cole and Luke Berger, and Heide, Brooke and Scarlett Tannehill, her brothers-in-law Bernie Rosenfeld and Irvin Berger, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, and longtime closest family friends Shirley Cohn, Barbara Knieper and Teresa Botello.Leni was preceded in death by her beloved husband Jack, her late son Ronnie who passed away from a malignant brain tumor in 1966 at the age of 19, her twin sisters Sonia Rosenfeld and Ester Doffman, cousin Enid Hurwitz and longtime best friends Peggy Samet and Ayda Koopman.Leni worked at Congregation Beth Yeshurun for 16 years as executive secretary to the Education Director of the pre-school and day school day.  Leni also had the privilege of working at The Jewish Federation as assistant to the Endowment Director and her dear friend Shirley Cohn. Leni was a member of Hadassah, Zionist Organization of America, and numerous charitable and community organizations. An avid baker, Leni enjoyed preparing and delivering holiday gift baskets every year to family and friends, filled with her delicious banana and prune cakes, Swiss Colony cheeses and sausages and candies.  A kind, sweet, loyal and generous soul, Leni will be missed by the countless friends and family she leaves behind.A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at 2:30 p.m.at Beth Yeshurun Allen Parkway Cemetery, located at 3502 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas 77019 with Rabbi Jack Segal officiating.Contributions in memory of Leni Berger can be made to the Holocaust Museum Houston, 5401 Caroline St., Houston, Texas 77004, or charity of your choice.