Vera Blum

Vera Olin Blum, Safta, died on Friday, December 10th, at the age of 89. Born in Berlin, Germany on February 26th, 1932, she was the middle child of three girls. Vera was a Holocaust survivor and lived her entire life as an example of strength, courage and purpose. As a young girl, she experienced and saw atrocities that she could never forget. Miraculously, she was reunited with her parents who survived the concentration camps while she and her sisters hid in Germany with a Christian family and in bombed out buildings for three years. After the war, Vera and her older sister were once again separated from their parents when the surviving Jewish children were shipped off to Palestine. The separation was supposed to be 30 days but turned into three years. Life in Palestine was very difficult. At that time, food was scarce and there was unrest in the region. Vera served in the Israeli army where she was a corporal. She could proudly recall her military ID number and remembered dancing in the streets when Israel became independent. Although life in Israel was not easy, she had fond memories of her experience there and Israel held a special place in her heart. Years later, the entire family immigrated to the United States when her mother decided that life in Israel was too difficult. They had to go back to Germany for a few years in order to immigrate to the United States. Eventually, the family made it to America on a ship called General Lankfitt which was a converted military ship. Vera met Lee Blum, a survivor, at a synagogue function and they were married at Temple Emanuel in Houston in 1957. She worked side by side with her husband, Lee Blum and their children at Lee Blum Furniture for decades. Vera was affectionately known as “Ms. Bell'' as she helped generations of customers with their furniture purchases. Vera and Lee traveled the world together and enjoyed their experiences. Vera Blum loved spending time with her grandchildren and cooking for them, especially her matzah ball soup. Known to her grandchildren as Safta, Vera enjoyed going to their sporting events and was their number one fan. She was a quiet soul who did not like attention or want material things but was devoted to her children and grandchildren who were her jewels. Vera enjoyed participating in various bowling leagues where she developed lifelong friendships and awards for her skills. As multilingual, Vera was fluent in German, Hebrew, Yiddish and English. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and daughter who will be greatly missed by those that loved her.
Vera was preceded in death by her late husband, Lee Blum, her parents, Max and Cella Olin, her sisters Thea Singer (Dave) and Gilda Pacht Luk. She is survived by her cherished children, Bernice Blum Miller and her husband Steven; Marvin Blum and his wife Michelle. Her adored grandchildren, Jonathan Blum, Jennifer Blum, Joshua Blum, Jordan Blum, Max Miller, Eli Miller and step grandchildren Jessica Miller, Lindsey Miller and numerous nieces and nephews who she loved. She also leaves behind many former employees of Lee Blum Furniture with whom she maintained close friendships throughout her lifetime.
Donations may be made to the Holocaust Museum (
https://hmh.org/give
),
Emery Weiner School (
https://www.emeryweiner.org/support
)
or charity of choice.