Ruth Natan, a fourth-generation Jerusalemite, passed away Aug. 27, 2012, in Denver. Rabbi Ted Stainman officiated at the graveside service at Mt. Nebo Cemetery. Shalom Funeral Service made the arrangements.
Mrs. Natan was born Aug. 31, 1921, in Jerusalem, in what was then British Palestine. Her great-grandparents emigrated there from Odessa, Russia, in the mid-1800s.
Wolf Wolfsinson, her father, came from an old Jerusalem family. Her mother Rachel Berman died during childbirth when Ruth was five. Ruths stepmother Ogenia raised the girl from the age of 12.
In addition to Hebrew, Yiddish and German, Ruth spoke perfect English, which she learned in the Evelina de Rothschild School for Girls.
When her husband Peter Natan was afflicted with asthma and severe skin allergies exacerbated by Israels heat and humidity, Ruth arranged for a visa for her husband and their son Oded (Eddie).
They went to Denver, known as the climate capital for asthmatics, in 1958.
Ruth regarded her family as her most important mission in life. To help support them, she worked as the assistant to the executive director of the JCC in the 1960s and 1970s, and also taught Hebrew at Beth Joseph.
She was married to Mr. Natan, who predeceased her, for 63 years.
Ruth is survived by her son Eddie Natan (Paula Arroyo-Natan) and their son Adam, who lives in New York.
The family requests that donations be made to the JCC Senior Program, which provided Ruth with an extended family in recent years.
Copyright © 2012 by the Intermountain Jewish News
