Nancy Silverman wrote:

Ethel was the first cousin of my father, Abe. She was born exactly one year before me and I will continue to celebrate her life on each of my remaining birthdays.

When I was a child, my father told me stories about his life in Tiraspol and how after his father died, Uncle Simon and Yetta would invite Abe and his little sister, Libbie, to their house. It was a lively place, often filled with friends; the children would hear music and laughter as well as discussions and arguments about the best options open to Jews for survival.

In 1911, Abe at 17 and Simon, about 30, left the Ukraine and arrived in America at the port of Galveston, Texas. They learned some English as they sold bananas, moved north and sent for Yetta, Libbie and my grandmother, Eta, who was Simon's eldest sister.

Then, my parents settled in Chicago; Yetta and Simon went to Los Angeles in 1912. The families were always in contact and their mutual friends visited both locations.

When Ethel was born on February 3, 1924, it was a real cause for celebration. I was born the next year and my sister, Eda in 1928. Time passed and finally Abe visited Los Angeles.

In 1934, Yetta and Ethel came to Chicago and we were able to meet Ethel and Yetta. Ethel was a tall 10 year old; beautiful, bright, with grace and chutzpah. Yetta was lovely, gracious, strong, intelligent, free-thinking, dynamic and tactfully outspoken. One could see that Ethel was her child.

We children listened to the stories and heard almost too much about the distressful world situation-both Ethel and were political animals the rest of our lives. But, most of that summer, we enjoyed each other's company, the World's Fair, the Indiana Dunes and Lake Michigan, Auntie Yetta's California avocado sandwiches and brand new, Sharon.

In 1946, when my husband, Paul, left the army at Fort Lewis, Washington, we headed for California and Ethel. Then, the three of us traveled to Chicago on route 66, in our battered 1935 Plymouth, averaging 35 miles and hour. We stopped at all the scenic areas on the way-what a trip it was! Then, we were greeted by all the family and Ethel met the very handsome and wonderful Marvin Stern.

We kept in touch through the years with occasional visits to Ethel from all the various places we lived. We finally moved to Orange County in 1990. We wish we could have enjoyed her at close range throughout her dynamic life. We will always miss her, but Steve, Elliott and Bryan are true inheritors of Ethel's spirit and beauty.