Anna Lewit May 8, 1920 - Mar. 28, 2015 NORWICH - Anna Lewit of West Palm Beach FL and Norwich, passed away on Saturday March 28th at the age of 94 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on May 8th, 1920 in Dzialoszyce, Poland daughter of the late Szaja and Ita Bejska. She married Abraham Lewit in 1946 in Linz, Austria, immigrated to Israel after WWII, before coming to the US in 1966. She lived in Colchester, CT followed by Norwich, CT and West Palm Beach, FL. Anna and her husband both were Holocaust survivors. She was a speaker at many schools educating them about the holocaust. She loved to sew and made many of her own clothes as well as her children and grandchildren's clothes when they were young. She loved to cook and feed others. No one went hungry when Anna was around. Her greatest passions were her grandchildren and great grandchild. Anna is survived by her daughter Judi Appleman and husband Jack of Irvine, CA, son; Alan Lewit and wife Ilene of Oakdale, grandchildren; Sarah Lerhaupt, husband Gary, and great grandchild Mae of San Francisco, CA, Michael Lewit of Oakdale, Ari Lewit of Davie, FL, sister Fay and husband Abe as well as several nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be held Thursday, April 2nd at 2 P.M. at Ahavath Achim Cemetery in Colchester, CT. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation, Inc. https://hpbcf.org/donation or mail to 5300 East Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida 33407. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.churchandallen.com

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Published by Norwich Bulletin on Apr. 1, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Anna Lewit

Sponsored by Church & Allen Funeral Service - Norwich.

8 Entries

Linda Christensen

April 3, 2015

I am so sorry to hear of Anna's passing. I was lucky to work with her through the Holocaust Center of the Jewish Federation. She was brave to be willing to talk about her life during the war. She will be missed.

Jack Kavanaugh

April 1, 2015

My sympathies go to the family of Anna Lewit. I knew her from her son Al being in my circle of friends as a child. For years she never mentioned her experiences during the holocaust but later in her life, as our paths would cross on different occasions, she opened up about them. May the memory of Anna (I always called her Hanna) remind us never to forget the holocaust and to never let it happen again.

April 1, 2015

Memories of Anna Lewit
Thomas R. Mulconry

I first heard of the passing of Anna Lewit on the morning of April 1, 2015, while in my office in Battle Creek, MI. I was so very sorry to hear of Anna's loss as she was my friend.

I enjoyed my conversations with Anna and her wonderful sense of humor, which was sometimes at the expense of her son Alan. I recall that in early January 1976, Alan asked his mother, who had just walked into the house, if it had snowed the previous night. Anna's response to Alan was that it had snowed just a little. When Alan subsequently tried to walk to his car he discovered the snow was actually above the knees. I guess when you are from Poland that is just a little snow. Amongst Anna's many talents she was a seamstress and an extremely skillful one. Anna made her own cloths and many individuals hired her to make cloths for them. I never hear any complaints about her work. Anna was a marvelous cook too. I had many a meal in Anna's home. At all times the food was warm and delicious, and at no time did I ever leave the table hungry. I always felt welcome in Anna's home, and enjoyed the meals she serve my wife Alice and I. I also saw that Anna had great tolerance and patience for Alan's other friends, and welcomed them into her home like they were family members.

Anna was originally from Dzialoszyce, Poland, and was born on May 8, 1920. Anna was just about five older than my own mother. I knew her maiden name was Bejska, as she sometimes told me stories of her past when I would visit her and her son Alan was not yet home. Anna also would try to teach me the correct pronunciation of Polish names and I would help her with her English pronunciations. I know I was never able to pronounce the word Dzialoszyce, the town she grew up in to her satisfaction. We enjoyed each other's company. Anna mentioned to me that she had occasionally been requested to speak at schools concerning her experiences during the holocaust, which was something I both encouraged her to do and applauded her for doing. Anna stated the recollections of the holocaust were sometimes painful for her to remember, but she knew it was important to tell others what had happened to ensure that those who did not survive would be remembered.

I saw Anna not only as a good person, but as a true survivor. There is a photograph that her son Alan has of Anna and her grandsons, Michael and Ari when they were very young. The sunlight is illuminating Anna and the boys just right, and you can see the love between them. It was seeing that photograph over 20 years ago that made me think how strong and resilient Anna was to not only survive the horrors of the holocaust, but still have so much love in her heart to go on living. In my mind that photograph is more evidence of Anna overcoming Nazi hatred and getting back to the real meaning of life than any war memorial could ever do.

In my opinion, GOD smiled on Anna many levels. Anna and Abraham Lewit, the man who would become her husband, survived the holocaust, miraculously found each other after the war and were married, and subsequently moved to Israel. From the sunny land of Israel Anna, along with her husband, son and daughter, moved to the United States, and initially settled in Colchester, CT, and then moved to Norwich, CT, the legendary Rose of New England, and finally to West Palm Beach, FL. It is good that Anna's final resting place will be in Colchester, next to her husband Abraham.

Anna very much loved her son Alan and her daughter Judi; their photographs were proudly displayed in the home. Anna was also very proud of her son Alan, who is my friend, and told me so on more than one occasion. I also believe that because of the love and caring Alan and Judi and their families gave to Anna over her life; she lived to a ripe old age.

I will always have a warm spot in my heart for Anna as she was kind and good to me; a true friend. I know she will be very much missed by all who knew and loved her.

Thomas R. Mulconry, Battle Creek, MI

Tom and Alice Mulconry

April 1, 2015

Deepest condolences to the Lewit family. Anna was a kind and gracious woman, always ready to lend a helping hand, a loving human being. She was courage personified . It was an honor to have known her.

Len Sneierson

April 1, 2015

A dear friend has come to pass. Though our families were friends for many years it was just a couple years ago that Anna told me that she had been in five concentration camps during WWII. I had known about Auschwitz but she explained that as the Allies had advanced against the Reich the populace was moved time and time again. Despite having to endure such despicable treatment; after the War her fortune changed and she lived a long and healthy life. We will miss you friend...may God Bless

March 31, 2015

Knowing you was an honor and to see how you touched our family and the children at East Lyme Middle School when you came there and spoke will never be forgotten with fond memories Paul, Sylvia and Anneliese Lapides

Kim

March 31, 2015

We will miss you Anna
Love,
Kim Jim Brissette and family

March 31, 2015

We will miss you sweet Anna. I will remember our talks together always asking how my kids and grandchildren are. They will miss Grandma Anna as much as we will. May you rest in Peace
Love Kim, Jim Brissette and Family

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