Lillian Rose Gelbart

Lillian Rose Gelbart
Lillian died on November 15, 2023. She was 101. Bernie, her husband of 34 years, preceded her in death. Her children, Howard, David, Steven, Judy and Sheryl, their spouses/significant others and extended families survive her.
Lillian supported Bernie's career as a rabbi until his sudden death in Duluth, MN in 1975. And while she said the pressure of being a rabbi's wife was sometimes hard, finding her way after Bernie's passing created many challenges. Yet, she faced them head on and grew into the strong-minded, independent woman we knew until the very end.
Part of that journey took her to Santa Cruz, CA where she worked as a medical billing clerk until she retired at age 85. Until the day she died, she considered her co-workers her extended family. She returned to the Twin Cities in 2012.
Lillian was a private person mostly, extremely insightful and humble. She always had a sense of what was right, and expected to be treated fairly. Of course, she would let you know if that wasn't happening!
She was also a great cook ~ her blintzes a specialty and favorite for those of us fortunate enough to partake. She made beautiful, hand-knitted creations for so many of us, and she was an avid reader, rarely without a book in-hand.
Through it all, her love for, devotion to, and pride she felt for her children and grandchildren never wavered. She was especially smitten with her great-grandchildren whether she saw them in person or photos. You could always tell by the sparkle they brought to her beautiful hazel eyes.
Funeral Service Friday, 9:00am, HODROFF-EPSTEIN MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 126 E. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis, MN. Private family burial. May her memory be a blessing.