Betty Kopka

Betty was born on November 17, 1928, the fourth child of Yankef (James) and Ginendel (Jenny) Ginsburg. Known as "Boshie" to friends and family, she was closest to her sister, Thelma. Her brother, Phil, and older sister, Sarah, rounded out the family. They grew up on the West Side among other children of Jewish immigrants from Poland (Boshie's mother, Jenny's, birthplace), Russia (Boshie's father, Yankef's, birthplace), and the myriad other ports of origin for the Jewish immigration near the turn of the century. At school and in the street, they spoke English and went for the latest American fads, while at home they spoke Yiddish and kept Jewish traditions.

Boshie graduated from Marshall High School, attended Junior College, and went to work for a downtown film company. As she watched her friends get married and have children, she wondered if she would ever find "Mr. Right." In retrospect, it was "beshert" that she would meet Max Kopka, her Mr. Right.

Max Kopka was the sole survivor of his immediate family; his parents and most of his aunts and uncles perished in the Holocaust. But two uncles survived, including his favorite uncle, Morris Kopka, who – after many trials and tribulations – made his way to Chicago with his wife, Bella, and their two boys, Henry and Sam. Having left his mother behind in Vienna and taking the last illegal Jewish transport to Palestine, Max was detained by the British, spent several years in a displaced-persons camp in Mauritius, and fought the Nazis in the Jewish Brigade of the British Army. After World War II he found himself in Palestine, and, 3 years later, fighting again – this time in the new Israeli Army. Yet, during all those years and in all those places, he never found the woman with whom he wanted to spend his life. That is, not until he came to Chicago in 1954 to visit his Uncle Morris.

When Thelma met Max on the beach in Chesterton, Ind., the first thing that came to her mind was a "shittach" with her little sister Bosh. But when she told Boshie that he had a European accent, Boshie was less than interested – until she actually met him. Well, they were engaged within 3 months, and married within 6 months.

Max opened a shoe store on Maxwell Street, across the street from Uncle Morris' shoe store, and from the very beginning they made money. Soon, Bobby was born, and they bought a two-flat at 6512 North Fairfield in West Rogers Park. Next came David, and Max and Betty and the two boys enjoyed many happy days strolling Devon Avenue, picnicking at the Bunker Hill Forest Preserve, or looking at the animals at the small zoo at Indian Boundry Park. Uncle Morris and Aunt Bella lived a block away on Washtenaw, and Uncle Izzy and Aunt Thelma lived only a few blocks away with their children, Barry and Freddy.

In 1967 they moved to Wilmette. That same year, two important things happened: Pa (as her father Yankef was affectionately known to the family) died, and Boshie got pregnant. Jimmy was born in 1968 – and now there were three boys. These were trying years, with the kids trying to look and act like "hippies" and the parents trying to make sure the kids didn't stray too far out. It was at New Trier West High School that Bob met Wendy and David met Laura. Eventually, Bob and Wendy gave Max and Betty two grandchildren: Jared and Seth; and David and Laura gave them four grandchildren: Ashley, Kimy, Justin, and Jennifer. Jimmy married Chris and, at the time of Betty's passing, they had given Max and Betty one more grandchild: Emily.

Max retired from work in 1987, and that's when Max and Betty really enjoyed their life and each other. They played tennis together almost every day – either at Highland Park Country Club, where they had many good friends, or in Clearwater, Fla., where they spent 3 months every winter. Betty also enjoyed playing maj jong and just "schmoozing" with the ladies. Max and Betty had so many good friends – from their oldest friends, the "Couples Club:" the Pollacks, Reismans, and Snites; to their newest friends, the Donnenbergs. The one thing that you could say about Betty Kopka: she attracted good friends like a fragrant flower attracts bees.

We will miss Betty. She survived leukemia for more than a year with strength, determination, and good humor. She was strong and vibrant until the very end. The day before she died, she celebrated her 70th birthday. She couldn't quite hold on a few more days to see her twin grandchildren called to the Torah as a Bar and Bat Mitzvah, but we know that she is watching with pride from Heaven, and we send her our love.