Aurelia "Rela" Stern Obituary (1923 - 2016)

Aurelia “Rela” Stern, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and dear friend, age 93, passed away peacefully on May 5, 2016. She was preceded in death by her parents, Osias and Helene Rosaminer. She is survived by her loving family: devoted husband of 67 years, Ernest “Ernie” Stern; daughters, Linda (Frank) Kass and Estelle (Terry) Rodgers; grandchildren, Alexandra Kass, Matthew (Nicole) Rubin, Brent (Suzanne) Lehring, Margot (Jamie) Lewis, David (Cari) Kass, and Jonathan (Melissa) Kass; great grandchildren, Ellia Rubin, Robin and Jax Lehring, Jacob Lewis, Leo and Carson Kass, Samantha and Jared Kass. Rela was born on April 24, 1923 in Podkamien, Poland and grew up during the gathering storm of World War II. She escaped persecution during the Holocaust, spent two years following the war in Vienna, studying medicine there, finally immigrating to the United States with her parents in 1947. Quickly thereafter, she moved to Columbus, Ohio and began graduate studies at The Ohio State University in bacteriology. Also that year, she met and fell in love with Ernie, and they married in 1948. Their first date was to go dancing at Valley Dale. An often-told story of that date was when Ernie suggested that she wear high heels, since she was barely five feet tall. She made it clear to her nearly six foot suitor, “no one tells me what to wear!’ And they were off to a great beginning. The anecdote aside, their long love affair and friendship was an inspiration to all who knew them. Rela briefly worked for a pharmaceutical company early in their marriage, and then devoted her life to her family, children, and community. She was an active volunteer for Jewish Family Services, using her facility with languages while assisting many immigrants arriving in Columbus from Eastern Europe. She was also active in Temple Israel Sisterhood and Hadassah for many years. Later, Rela enjoyed playing golf with her friends, and travelling with Ernie; and they enjoyed twenty-five years of retirement in Palm Desert, California. In the last dozen years, as Rela’s health declined, family became ever more important as the couple settled back year-round in Columbus, surrounded by an ever-growing family, to their delight. Her grandchildren, their spouses, and great grandchildren became the center of her and Ernie’s lives, along with her devoted daughters and son-in-laws. Funeral services will be held at 12:30 pm on Sunday, May 8 at Temple Israel, 5419 E. Broad St. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn – Temple Israel. Shiva will be observed at the home of Linda and Frank Kass on Sunday immediately following the service and on Monday at Creekside at the Village at 6:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to Wexner Heritage Village or Temple Israel.