Mina Cuker

Mina Cuker was born on October 29, 1926 and died on July 29, 2008 at the Jewish Healthcare Center in Worcester. Graveside services were held on August 4, 2008 at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City West, AZ. Mina was the elder daughter of Molly and Marcus Markowitz. Mina is survived by her sister, Francis Cogen of Sun City West, AZ; children, Rachael Hirschhorn of Merced, CA, Jonah Cuker of Holden, MA and Benjamin Cuker of Hampton, VA; and their spouses, George, Ronna and Dawn; by grandchildren, Adam, Jennifer, Aaron and Lydia, and great grandchildren, Shalom and Isabella. Mina's husband of 55 years, Seymour died in 2003.

Mina was born into a working-class family in Bronx, NY and grew-up during the Great Depression. She met her husband, Seymour after he returned from serving in the Navy in WWII. In addition to raising her three children, Mina pursued various interests that yielded a rich life. She was active in the League of Women Voters. Mina was a gifted artist, rendering her subjects in pastel chalks. In the early 1960's Mina founded her own survey research business when the family lived in Manchester, NH. She left that work to direct an Upward Bound program serving underprivileged girls. When the family relocated to Detroit in 1966, Mina began a new survey research business, which she ran until her retirement in 1987. Mina and Seymour retired to Sun City West, AZ in 1990. She enjoyed volunteer work with museums and the local school system, and traveling with her husband. Mina was a warm and welcoming soul, who attracted all sorts of folks. She and Seymour shared their house with numerous live-in guests, including young VISTA volunteers in the early 1960's, young people getting started in life, older folks needing a place to stay, including Father Leo Vandenberg, a Catholic Priest. She presided over a dinner table known more for stimulating conversation than for culinary achievement. Mina took great pride in her Jewish heritage and understood the world as one would who lived through the era of the Holocaust. As such she embraced the diversity of people in her community and affiliated with organizations that defended human rights. Mina was an avid reader and took college courses at the University of Detroit in the 1970's. She was an excellent Scrabble player and loved to tell stories. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Donations may be made to The Jewish Healthcare Center, 629 Salisbury Street, Worcester 01609.