Pearl Sass

  PEARL SASS   Wife of Max J. Sass z”l (52 years) Mother of Stephen (Steven Hochstadt), Stacey (David Cooperman) and Lawrence (Debra) Grandmother of Amanda and Jessica Sass and Jamie, Torie (Max Berger), Maya, Aliza and Kiva Cooperman.   Pearl Sass (z”l) passed away on Shabbat Shemot, Saturday, January 14, 2023, 21 Tevet 5783 at home, with her children by her side.   Pearl was born in London, England in 1928, the youngest child of an “intermarriage” between her mother, Louise, the granddaughter of Sephardic Jews who had moved to England from Holland, and her father, Samuel, who was of Ashkenazi, Eastern European heritage. Her father died when she was an infant. Pearl and her sister Irene and brother Phillip were raised by Louise as a single mother who went into business to support the family through a variety of enterprises, including a chain of fish and chip restaurants.  Pearl’s Jewish primary school was destroyed during the World War II blitz, so she attended the nearest school, at a Catholic convent, where she said the French nuns were very respectful of the Jewish students. After the war, Pearl and her mother left London to join family, first in Canada and then in Long Beach, California, where she met her husband, Max, z”l, at a Jewish singles dance in 1953. Pearl and Max were married in 1955 and moved from Long Beach to the San Fernando Valley in 1960. The couple were active and proud members and volunteers for synagogues and community organizations wherever they lived, including at Valley Beth Shalom for almost 50 years. Pearl held various positions in Sisterhood and Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, Pacific Southwest Branch, chairing the Book & Gift Shop at Valley Beth Israel and Valley Beth Shalom, and was twice recognized with Torah Fund’s Chayye Olam Award. After retiring from VBS Gift Shop, she went on to work “professionally” at Shalom House in Woodland Hills, owned by Stacey and David. She was a competitive mahjong and card player and her mandelbroit and noodle kugel were world famous. Pearl’s warm, friendly, radiant smile and personality lit up every place she ever entered. Her children and grandchildren were the pride and joy of her life. She will be missed terribly. Contributions in Pearl’s memory may be made to Valley Beth Shalom Sass Family Endowment Fund, www.vbs.org, Breed Street Shul Project, www.breedstreetshul.org, or your favorite charity. Funeral Services Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. Mount Sinai Memorial Park 5950 Forest Lawn Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068 The service will be live-streamed at https://www.viewlogies.net/mountsinaiparks/wnusyuY84?pin=522668 Pin 522-668