Rhoda Cohen Stryer

1916 - 2012

Rhoda Cohen Stryer died peacefully in her home Monday evening, Jan. 2, 2012, during her 95th year. Service: 1 p.m. Thursday in the Beth-El Section of Greenwood Memorial Park. Shiva and minyan will be held at the residence. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, consideration of contributions to the Humane Society of North Texas, Beth-El Congregation or a charity of one's choice, in Rhoda's memory, is suggested. Born June 23, 1916, in Dorchester, Mass., Rhoda was the daughter of Julius and Fanny Bloom Cohen and graduated from Lawrence High School in Lawrence, Mass. She worked for many years for Springfield Sugar and as a department store bookkeeper in downtown Springfield, Mass. On Dec. 30, 1945, she married Martin Stryer after he was discharged from the Army, having been stationed with the Marines on a PT boat. Their marriage lasted nearly 60 years before Marty's death in 2005. After moving to Fort Worth in 1959, Rhoda spent a lot of time doing various types of volunteer work. She helped out at Beth-El Congregation, interpreting for newcomers to Fort Worth who spoke only Yiddish. She did filing at Moncrief Radiation Center, took calls in the waiting room at All Saints Hospital and worked in their cafeteria on Christmas so their staff could be off for the holiday. In addition to Beth-El, her memberships also included Hadassah and the Sisterhood. Rhoda always wanted to make a difference and contribute to society; she definitely did this. She touched many lives as a volunteer, friend, aunt, wife and mother. She will be missed every day by those whose lives she touched and will never be forgotten. We love you! Rhoda was a very devoted mom who always put her family first. There was nothing she would not do to support them. Survivors: In addition to her daughters, Fredi and Debbie, Rhoda leaves behind her son-in-law, Larry Levine, with whom she had an unusually close relationship; he loved her like a mother and in turn, she loved him like a son. She is also survived by her sister, Anne Westerman and her husband, Sam, of Las Vegas, Nev.; numerous nieces and nephews and their families as far away as Massachusetts, Tennessee, Arizona and California; and of course, we cannot forget her favorite animals, Alex, Jake, Corbie and Misty.