Eta Mandelberger, 100, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022, surrounded by her family.
A service celebrating her life was held on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, at Louis Memorial Chapel. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Jewish Family Services, Midwest Center for Holocaust Education or a charity of your choice.
Eta was born to Meyer and Mania Tusk on Feb. 10, 1922, in Lodz, Poland. She and her twin sister Mila, their brother Abram and elder sister Lala lived comfortable lives until WWII. Mila, Abram and their mother Mania died in 1944 when they were sent to Auschwitz from the Lodz Ghetto. Eta and her sister Lala were liberated by the British army from the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in April 1945.
Shortly thereafter, Eta was sent to Sweden where she met her husband Emil. After the birth of their daughter Miriam, the family emigrated to the United States, settling in Brooklyn, New York. In Brooklyn, Eta had two more children, Arthur and Fanny.
Feeling that the war had robbed her of an education, Eta went on to earn a GED certificate and a degree in sociology from Brooklyn College. Because she was fluent in Polish, German and English, Eta was able to help fellow Holocaust survivors gain restitution from the German government.
The war honed her priorities. She cared about and loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They always knew she was in their corner no matter what. She taught them to look at the big picture and not sweat the small stuff. She was kind and compassionate to those she met and accepted people as they were. She loved the theater, music and reading. She was a lifelong learner. She was a cultured, independent, resilient woman, and she will be missed.
Eta is preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, her husband Emil and her beloved son Arthur. Eta is survived by her daughters Miriam (Daniel), Fanny (Vania); her grandchildren Jonathan (Meggan), Brian (Anne), Allison (Joshua); and great-grandchildren Charlie, Maya, Ryan, Tommy and Asher.
A special thanks to her longtime caregiver, confidant, and friend Carlota Rivera. She and her family, Precious, and Del cared for Eta for eight years and made the last years of her life happy, comfortable and loved.
