Sidonia Lax

Sidonia (nee Lewin) Lax, beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother passed away in Sherman Oaks on December 13.  Born in Przemysl, Poland on June 8, 1927, Sidonia lived a comfortable childhood, free of want or worry.  With the outbreak of WWII and the invasion of Poland, Sidonia and her parents became victims of the Holocaust.  After losing her family, she lived in ghettos, work camps and eventually was sent to Auschwitz. She survived the war and soon thereafter was united with her cousins in Los Angeles.  Here, she met Lewis Lax z”l, and they married in 1949.  Together, they raised three children (Genie, Irene and Bernard z”l) while starting a successful women’s clothing business, Classic Creations.  After Lewis z”l passed away in 1994, Sidonia became involved with educating the community about the Holocaust. She worked with the Shoah Foundation and Builders of Jewish Education March of the Living. Sidonia, along with Lewis z”l were involved in many community organizations throughout their lives. Sidonia was always a symbol of outgoing optimism in spite of what she had experienced.  She always said she was a “thriver” instead of a “survivor.”  Through her connections with everyone, she has affected and changed the lives of many. Sidonia is survived by her children, Irene (Yoni) Boujo, Genie (Gary) Benson, Bernard z”l (Lynda) Lax, grandsons, David (Jennifer) Benson, Andrew Benson, Eric (Sarah) Boujo, Joey Boujo and Taylor Lax, and great grandsons Oliver and Tyler Benson. Services will be held Sunday, December 18, at Mount Sinai Memorial Park – Hollywood Hills.  In honor of her memory, donations may be sent to Builders of Jewish Education-The Sidonia Lax March of the Living Scholarship Fund or Camp Alonim of the Brandeis Bardin Institute.