ETTA E. KLEIN
Etta Klein, 96, passed away Thursday, June 22, 2017 at her home in Menlo Park. Services were held at Hills of Eternity Memorial Park, Colma, CA. Rabbi Janet Marder of Congregation Beth Am, Los Altos Hills, officiated.
Etta valued being productive, independent, American, and optimistic. She produced award-winning sales for over 46 years, until retirement at 84. Key to being independent was keeping fit. Etta exercised with her friends at the YMCA in the 80s & 90s, and with her gang at Little House for the last 20 years.
Her parents, Samuel and Alta Goldman, arrived at Ellis Island in 1906 and started over in Chicago. Etta, born in 1920, brought home English and excellent grades. She married Oscar Klein in 1942. As a young Army bride and mother she raised her son Sam until Oscar returned from WWII. Oscar died in 1980, and Etta moved to California in 1998 to join her daughter Michele's family.
Etta felt responsible to be an American and privileged to vote. She celebrated July 4th and Veteran's Day as one who personally felt the meaning of the holidays. Thanksgiving and Passover were her times to shine. She cracked up guests with jokes at holiday tables, and showed us all how to enjoy ourselves.
She knew how to be happy, even with adversity. When recently diagnosed with terminal cancer, she did not dwell on it. She was bright, wise, strong and serene.
She is survived by Sam (son) and Sherry Klein, Long Island, NY; Michele Klein (daughter) and Glenn Daniel, Portola Valley, CA; Robert (grandson) and Jennifer Klein and three great-grandchildren, New York, NY. She had a strong bond with Kathleen and Harlow Robinson (nephew), Megan (great niece) and Jeff Utne, and Mary (great-niece) and Chris Segura, all of the Chicago area.
The family of Etta Klein would appreciate donations in her memory to: PA-Family Medicine Fund in honor of Dr. Steven Lane, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Dept. Of Philanthropy, 795 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94301. http://www.pamf.org/giving/
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