Florence Wight Edelstein

Florence Wight EDELSTEIN Florence Edelstein, a Sacramento, Ca., native who died February 26, packed a lot of living into her memorable 86 years. Mrs. Edelstein was the fifth of seven children born to Arthur Gardener Wight and his wife, the former Jennie Anita Donald, on March 15, 1924. Mrs. Edelstein succeeded in paying her own way to a social work degree at San Francisco State College. She often told about lean undergraduate years when she and Vera, her college roommate, scraped by sharing a single baked potato for dinner. At one time, she clerked in the office of famed San Francisco attorney Melvin Belli. At college Florence met and married a fellow student, World War II veteran Alexander (Alex) Edelstein. The couple lived in Modesto, CA, and Minneapolis before settling in Seattle in 1954 where they raised their four children. In the 1960s, Florence authored a popular monthly column, 'Americans Abroad,' for the Seattle Times. Typical was 'Christmas in Denmark,' a column that told how her two sons and two daughters adjusted as Alex's career took the family to Copenhagen, Denmark and later to Belgrade, Yugoslavia. In Seattle Mrs. Edelstein tended her family while actively participating in community and politics. She was known for her optimism, courage and compassion and her tireless support of her seven grandchildren. She was a passionate follower of Nathan Hale music and Husky sports. She worked first as a volunteer and then as a staffer at the University of Washington Medical Center. Smart and funny to the end, she was among the greatest of the greatest generation. Her husband and her grandson Alexander predeceased Mrs. Edelstein. Her survivors include her brother Jim Wight of Sacramento, sons David (wife Catherine Michiels-Edelstein), and Douglas (Roberta Lindeman), and daughters Jane Chadsey (Terry) of Seattle and Susan Palmer (Michael) of Woodinville. Surviving grand-children include Brian and Emily Goetz, Andy Palmer, David Ayala-Lindeman, and Laurel and Raleigh Edelstein. Mrs. Edelstein will be laid to rest at Lake View Cemetery. There will be a celebration at her home from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday (March 12). Friends of the family are welcome to attend. Memorial gifts can be made to Nathan Hale Music Department or Children's Hospital Foundation: Uncompensated Care. Visit florence-edelstein. forevermissed.com for more information and to sign guest book.