Ellen Ober

Ellen (Chala) Ober was born in Lublin, Poland, on November 11, 1919. She was born on a historic date—exactly one year after Poland regained its independence. She was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandma, and great-grandma, that inspired us all!  

 

Ellen had a phenomenal memory, and through the stories she shared with us, We learned about our history. She told us that her mother, Malka Stern (née Eichenboim), had two beloved sisters. They cherished one another deeply and, despite living in different towns in Poland, made great efforts to meet whenever possible. The eldest, Shifra-Rachel, married David-Hirsch Buchtriger, and together they had six children. They lived in the town of Hrubieszów, but tragically, the entire family was murdered during the Holocaust.  

 

The second sister, Sarah, lived with her husband, Yechiel Shulman, in the town of Janów Lubelski. They had nine children, but only Ya'akov Shulman, survived the Holocaust. The rest of the family was murdered in the Belzec extermination camp.   Malka married Naftali Stern, and they had six children. Three survived the Holocaust: Victor, Bronia, and Chala. The rest of the Stern family was killed during the war. Chala also had three brothers: Aharon, Mordechai, and Pinchas.  

 

Chala married Leizer (Leon) Oberleder from Lublin. Leizer’s father, Chaim Oberlander, was a nurse at the Jewish hospital in Lublin. He was at the bedside of Rabbi Meir Shapiro—the head of the Chachmei Lublin Yeshiva and the founder of the Daf Yomi study cycle—when he passed away in 1933.  

 

Chala and Leizer were resilient. At the start of World War II, they left Lublin and made their way to Kyrgyzstan. When the war ended, they welcomed their first daughter, Esther. In the summer of 1946, they returned to Poland, and upon realizing the extent of the devastation, they left for a displaced persons camp in Germany. A few months later, they moved to Paris, France, where they had two more children, Louis and Monique.   In 1960, Chala and Leizer decided to fulfill their dream of immigrating to the United States. They shortened their family name to Ober and first settled in Pittsburgh before later relocating to Los Angeles.  

 

Ellen was witty, funny, smart, amazing, blunt, honest, creative, a survivor, a proud American (refugee and immigrant), and loved the beach!   She is survived by her family that she loved to the sky and more. Her three children, two grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.   

 

Ellen was a seamstress her whole life. She ran the house and did side work. She made most, if not all, her children's clothes by hand. She would go window shopping in France, and then in Beverly Hills and would come home and copy (and perfect) the clothing she saw for her and her children. She loved a good party dress (she would make her own). Her creativity did not stop at clothes. Sunday night family dinners (every week) were an event. Enough food for an army. Her love language was food (and honesty). The recipes and cooking would take 3 days, and there would be enough for all of us take home food for days!!! The best food ever! Full of love, history, and her spirit.   

 

Through her grit and will power she had many successes. Her mission was for her children and future generations to thrive, and that has come true, from her guiding hand and modeling. She was tough but loving, kind but real, soft but firm when she needed to be.

 

They do not make anyone like her anymore. She lived the American Dream!  

 

She shaped so many lives. We love you to the sky and more. She lives on through us all.   

 

"Gey Drek in Akean!"  

 

May her memory be a blessing.  

 

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ellen's honor can be made to:

 

Alzheimer's Assocation

www.alz.org

ORT of America

ortamerica.org

Magen David Adom

www.mdais.org/en/donation

 

Thank you,

 

Ober family