Estelle Nadel
Holocaust survivor and longtime Colorado resident Estelle Nadel died on November 28, 2023. She was 88, five days shy of her 89th birthday. A service was held on December 1 at Mountain View Cemetery in Boulder, officiated by Rabbi Benjy Brackman. Crist Mortuary made the arrangements.
Born on December 3, 1934 in Borek, Poland, a small town near Cracow. Enia Feld changed her name to Estelle when she immigrated to the US as a young child after surviving the Holocaust.
Both of Mrs. Nadel’s parents died in the Holocaust, along with her brother Moishe. A longtime soloist in temple choirs, and a member of the Colorado Hebrew Chorale, Mrs. Nadel wrote a book about her survival called The Girl Who Sang, expected to be released in January, 2024.
“She made a remarkable life for herself, her husband and her children in the US,” Mrs. Nadel’s family said. “She listened, she cared for, she advised, and more than anything, she empathized.
“She wanted to know all of the details — the parts that people were too ashamed to share, that people were too fearful to know about themselves, or what would seem too boastful to say to someone else.
“She knew that happiness depended on completely understanding yourself and she helped people completely understand themselves by completely understanding them.
“She was the most optimistic person — joy was infinite. Sadness was finite.”
Survivors are Mrs. Nadel’s husband of 71 years, Fred Nadel; sons Ron (Hester) Nadel, Darren (Michele) Nadel and David Nadel; and grandchildren Hanna Nadel, Shaina Nadel, Talia and Josh Goodman, and Tzvi Nadel and Liora Nadel.
Contributions may be made to HIAS.
Sam Finer
Denver native Sam Finer passed away on November 28, 2023, at the age of 98. Mr. Finer’s passing occurred less than one month after the November 1 death of his wife, Eunice Finer. A service was held on November 30 at Rose Hill Cemetery, officiated by Rabbi Yaakov Chaitovsky and Cantor Martin Goldstein.
Mr. Finer was born on September 14, 1925. He attended North High School and after graduation served in the US Navy; he then graduated from DU with a degree in electrical engineering. Mr. Finer worked for 34 years at Martin Marietta Aerospace on a number of classified defense and space exploration systems.
Following his return to Denver after his military service, Mr. Finer met Eunice Kraut. They were married in 1949, and were a couple until Mrs. Finer’s passing in November.
“Family, friends and neighbors knew Sam as a person you call when you need help fixing most things electrical or mechanical,” Mr. Finer’s family said. “His home was a frequent destination for students getting help with their math homework.”
Survivors include Mr. Finer’s son Meritt Finer and daughter Gayle (William) Talbott.
Contributions may be made to Wounded Warriors or The Denver Hospice.
Copyright © 2023 by the Intermountain Jewish News
