Nelly Levy Berg

NELLY LEVY BERG passed away on April 7, 2004, the birth date of her mother Hilda Levy. She was born on June 27, 1910, in Behle, Germany, and immigrated to America in April, 1938, settling in Houston. Nathan Klein, who was married to her first cousin Sarah Breier, had signed the necessary affidavit that allowed her to escape Nazi Germany, as he had done for other members of her family as well as for countless others. A year later, her German sweetheart Fred Berg followed her to Houston, and they were married in the Klein home on April 9, 1939. It was a bittersweet day when her cousin Sarah died suddenly later that day. Nelly and Fred lived their whole lives totally devoted to their family. They were proud charter members of Congregation Emanu El. A small woman of remarkable strength, Nelly was thought to be one of the longest living by-pass patients, having been operated on by Dr. Denton Cooley in 1971. Nelly was preceded in death in 1996 by her beloved husband, and just in the last few years, by her sisters Ruth Simon and Irma Dannenbaum - all three "Levy girls" having lived to be in their 90's. She is survived by her children Sara Astrich and Lorraine and Ed Wulfe; her grandchildren Steve Astrich, Stephanie Astrich, Sondee and Bobby Hatcher, and Karin and Gary Gerstenhaber of Austin; 7 great-grandchildren, Bobby, Jordan, Marissa, and Samantha Astrich, A.J. Gerstenhaber, and Clay and Kelly Hatcher; nieces and nephews Margit Levitin, Evelyn and Sig Westheimer, Frank Dannenbaum and Lourdes Garrido, and Nurit and Efi Yavin of Israel. The family gratefully acknowledges the loving care provided by Evelyn Whitfield, Cynthia Robinson, and Mary McGaha, and Dr. Young Kim and the other angels at Houston Hospice. Graveside services will be held at Emanu El Memorial Park, 8341 Bissonnet at 2 p.m. Friday April 9th, the 65th anniversary of her wedding and of the death of her cousin Sarah Klein to whom the whole family owes their very existence. Rabbi Roy A. Walter, Rabbi Mathew D. Michaels and Cantor Vadim I. Tunitsky will officiate. Donations may be made to Houston Hospice, 1905 Holcombe, 77030, Congregation Emanu El Temple Fund, 1500 Sunset, 77005, or to a charity of your choice.