Edith Hamer

Edith Finkelstein Hamer died peacefully on Feb. 18, 2016 at home in Clearlake. Her life's journey began on May 14, 1937 in Kaunas, Lithuania. Together with her parents she was fortunate enough to receive a visa from the morally courageous Mr. Chiune Sugihara in July of 1940. Through the additional help of her uncle, Jack Finley, an unnamed Jew on the train through Siberia, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society and several other righteous individuals, she escaped World War II and came to New York City with her parents on a Japanese ship in 1941. Her journey continued with an American education. She graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor's degree and a Masters degree in elementary education from Russell Sage College. In 1957, she joined her soul mate, Paul Hamer, in a marriage that lasted more than 58 years. In 1962 their lives were further enriched and brightened by the birth of twin sons, Louis and David, who presently live nearby. Before their birth she worked at the N.J. Bell Telephone Company for 5 years while attending night school. In 1968 she began teaching many elementary school children in the Kingston City Schools Consolidated, Kingston, New York. This career lasted 25 years. In 1996 she and Paul moved to Houston, Texas. Here her life was further blessed with involvement with family, especially her three beloved granddaughters, Sonia, Joann, and Emily. She spent many active volunteer hours as docent and helper at the Holocaust Museum Houston. She was a member of Temple Beth Tikvah and the Child Holocaust Survivor's of Houston. Because she believed in a lifetime of learning, she took many local courses over the years. She enjoyed physical exercise, reading, the Houston Ballet as well as other cultural activities available in the Houston area. She felt grateful to be a devoted wife to Paul, loving grandmother to Sonia, Joann, and Emily, mother to Louis, David, and wife, Michelle. She also leaves a brother, Bob Finkelstein, sister-in-law, Carol, nephews, Michael and Adam, cousins, and friends. She tried to live a life of quiet dignity, embracing family, friends, and Jewish Values. Funeral services were held at Congregation Beth Israel Memorial Garden at Woodlawn Cemetery conducted by Rabbi Deborah Schloss on Feb 21, 2016 at 11:00am. Memorial donations may be made to Holocaust Museum Houston, 5401 Caroline St., Houston Tx 77004, or to Temple Beth Tikvah, 12411 Park Shadow Trail, Houston Tx 77058.

Edith Hamer

May 14, 1937 - February 18, 2016