Adrien J. Bledstein

Adrien J. Bledstein

Adrien J Bledstein, 86, passed away on January 14, 2026. She was born in 1939 in Los Angeles, California, to Ada and Sydney Janofsky. Adrien graduated from UCLA where she met and married Burton J Bledstein. They moved to Princeton NJ where she worked as a high school English teacher while Burton completed his PHD in American History. From there they moved to Chicago, IL where she became a Biblical Scholar, teaching high school and adult bible classes at KAM Isaiah Israel congregation for over 50 years. She also published numerous articles which can be found on Academia.edu at https://independentscholar.academia.edu/AdrienBledstein.

She spent summers with her children in Oconomowoc WI as the librarian at camp Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute. In Chicago, she became a specialist in reading comprehension and critical thinking at the Reading Institute of Chicago.

In the 1990s, after developing adult-onset asthma, she developed a series of re-usable face masks to protect herself from the triggers that set off her asthma. She developed this into a new career as a small businesswoman. Adrien opened "I Can Breathe! Masks" in 1995 when it became clear that her products were unique and there was a market for the masks. I Can Breathe! Masks operated through 2025.

Adrien was a loving and dedicated wife and mother. Burton, her husband of 65 years, passed in 2024. She is survived by her children, Hannah and Noah (Natalie) and her grandchildren, Samantha and Nate, as well as her brother Joel (Vivian).

A memorial service will be held at 11:00am on Friday, January 30th at Heritage Funeral Home (16880 W. National Ave, New Berlin WI).