Regina Gerst Kleiner

KLEINER, REGINA GERST

Wife of Max Kleiner of blessed memory, beloved mother of Lydia Kleiner and cherished grandmother of Vica and Vitaly Kleiner, died on July 4, 2005 in Bethesda, MD.

She was born on October 17, 1915 in Brzezin, Poland and survived World War II in the Lodz slave labor camp. She was the sole survivor in her family of six children and parents. After the War, she came to the U.S. with her husband and daughter and lived in New Jersey for many years before moving to Maryland in February, 2005.

She was an active member of the New Jersey Area Holocaust Memorial Committee and Treasurer of the Independent Lodzer Young Men and Women's Association. She wrote and translated poetry from Yiddish to English and spoke often about the importance of the Yiddish language and its literature.

Until 1995, she worked for the New Jersey Passaic County Social Services, and only retired to care for her husband, who became ill. Regina and Max Kleiner moved here to be closer to their daughter and grandchildren. Her husband of 60 years, Max Kleiner, died on May 3, 2005.

Graveside services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Parklawn Memorial Park, Rockville, MD. The family will be observing Shiva beginning Wednesday evening at the home of Lydia Kleiner.

Memorial contributions may be made to Living Traditions, 45 E. 33rd St., Suite B-2A, New York City, NY 10016 or www.livingtraditions.org.