Bernice Ashkanazi, formerly of St. Louis and Denver, passed away March 28, 2015, in Denver. Rabbi Yaakov Meyer officiated at the March 31 graveside service at Mt. Nebo Cemetery. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
At the funeral, Mrs. Ashkanazi’s grandson Michael Hankin remembered her as a very informal, down-to-earth woman whose life revolved around taking care of her husband and enjoying her time with him.
”She lived life on her own terms,” Michael said.
Mrs. Ashkanazi was born Sept. 4, 1927, in St. Louis, Mo., to Jack and Libbie Tecklin.
On March 16, 1952, she married the love of her life Bernard Ashkanazi, to whom she devoted the next 45 years of her life.
In St. Louis, Mrs. Ashkanazi worked as an administrative assistant until she joined her husband in managing his wholesale jewelry and gift business.
The Ashkanazis moved to Denver in 1982 to be close to their daughter Gail Ashkanazi-Hankin and her family.
Mrs. Ashkanazi worked at the original joint BMH and Beth Joseph religious school before becoming the secretary at DU Hillel, where she enjoyed the relationships she had with students.
In 1991, the Ashkanazis retired to Sun City, Ariz.
After her husband passed away on Dec. 29, 1997, Mrs. Ashkanazi moved to The Villages, Fla. She built a new life for herself and enjoyed bowling, driving in her golf cart, doing needlework and caring for beloved Jack Russell terrier Sparky.
She returned to Denver to be cared for her by her daughter Gail in the final weeks of her life.
Mrs. Ashkanazi is survived by her three children Gail (Larry Hankin) Ashkanazi-Hankin of Englewood, Janis (Dr. Darren) Hoover of Pittsburgh and Dr. Glenn (Debra Carnegie) of Gainseville, Fla.; sister Frances (the late Lawrence) Cohen of Chesterfield, Mo.; grandchildren Jennifer (Max) Heyman of Greenwood Village, Michael (Christina) Hankin of Las Vegas, Laura Hoover of Pittsburgh, Keith Hoover of Boston and Jason Ashkanazi of Gainesville; and seven great-grandchildren.
Contributions may be made to Aish Denver, Denver Jewish Day School, or to the charity of choice.
Copyright © 2015 by the Intermountain Jewish News
