Dorothy Feldman Cohen, 95, matriarch of Feldman Mortuary and the repository of Jewish life in Denver, passed away Feb. 6, 2012, in Denver. Rabbi Steven Foster, Rabbi Joe Black and Cantor Regina Heit officiated at the Feb. 8 service held at Feldman Chapel.
Interment followed at Mt. Nebo Cemetery. Feldman Mortuary, founded by Mrs. Cohens father Sam Feldman in 1936, made the arrangements.
You have always been my strength, my sounding board and support, son Steve Cohen wrote in his eulogy. You have always been strong, and in turn made me strong . . .
G-d bless you for all that you have represented and done for me. I will always cherish the special bond and relationship we shared.
I will miss you terribly, Steve wrote, but as you told me, this time would come and I must go on. As the song says, I know you are just a whisper away to where you are.
Dorothy Cohen was born Aug. 27, 1916, in Denver to the late Samuel and Sadie Feldman. She went to Taylor Elementary, Gove Junior and East High.
Shortly after enrolling at DU she met Aaron Cohen at a tea dance at the university.
I fell in love with Aaron because he was a real gentleman and I guess mostly because he liked me! she told the IJN in an interview published July 1, 2011, in Generations magazine.
They dated for three years and were married by the late Rabbi C.E. Hillel Kauvar on Oct. 11, 1936.
When Sam Feldman died of a stroke in November of 1937, Aaron Cohen joined the family business and ran it for the next 41 years. Although Mr. Cohen lacked experience in the beginning, he was determined to learn, and we all seemed to learn along with him, she said.
Feldman was part of our home, Mrs. Cohen told the IJN. It was a family affair, and we all worked together. Aaron and I were proud that we were doing something for the community.
Mrs. Cohen kept the books for the mortuary and raised their three children Steve, Nancy and Margey. In addition to attending countless funerals, she became a fixture of Jewish Denvers social scene.
It wasnt like Feldman and my marriage were two separate things, she said. Aaron and I were very close partners, in business and in the home. Our love was mutual.
Their daughter Nancy Cohen Nicoll was killed in a car accident near Aspen in 1981.
Mr. Cohen passed away on July 15, 1993.
A lifetime member of Hadassah, Mrs. Cohen was active with JCRS (Jewish Consumptives Relief Society), Rose Hospital Auxiliary, Beth Israel Auxiliary, ORT and Brandeis Women.
She belonged to Temple Emanuel and BMH-BJ.
Although Mrs. Cohen witnessed incredible changes in her long life, she valued family above everything.
I always had a father who adored me, a husband who adored me, children who adore me, and six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, she said.
I think Im very lucky, dont you?
I did the best I could with my life, Mrs. Cohen told the IJN. When I had to face death, I did. My favorite saying is, You have to play the cards youre dealt.
Mrs. Cohen, who was 94 when she was interviewed by this newspaper, admitted that she did think of death very often now. But then I realize Ive done my bit on this earth, and when the time comes Ill be ready.
Mrs. Cohen is survived by her children Stephen J. (Cheryl) Cohen of Greenwood Village and Margey (Gary) Cheses of Columbus, Ohio; grandchildren Mark (Wendy) Cohen, Jim (Alissa) Cohen, Emmie (Dan Jones) Cheses, Keith Cheses, Shelby Cheses and Alicia (Greg) Munster; and great-grandchildren Shane and Haley Cohen, Asher and Eva Cohen, Aaron Jones and Emily, Gavin and Brett Munster.
Contributions may be made to Temple Emanuel.
Copyright © 2012 by the Intermountain Jewish News
