Gladys Lemanowitz Westle
Gladys
Our mom, Gladys Lemanowitz Westle was the 6th of the 6 Lemanowitz daughters. Early on, she lived in the family home at 5813 Larchwood Avenue. She always shared with us that when Jake was told he had yet another girl, he left the room in a huff. Yet, they became extremely close and she spent many hours working side by side with him in the candy store that Jake and Rose owned. He taught her many of the skills she would use later in her work as a bookkeeper for various businesses. Rose and Jake were truly “Mom and Pop” to her. Our mom has truly honored their memory with the way she lives her life.
With our mom and dad, the term “unconditional love” was not just an expression, it was the way they raised us. Certainly there were times when mom might not have liked what we had done (maybe a LOT of times) and she likes to joke, that there might have been times when she didn’t LIKE us (we can’t say we blame her), but there was NEVER a time where we could question the love our mom and dad had for us. Mom is somebody who, to this day, is always there to listen to a problem or a funny story. When advice is needed, she’ll give it--and it will be worth listening to. Whether mom was spending Sunday mornings with Robert talking politics and world events, or talking with Donna about what was happening in her life and with her friends, mom and dad were always there for us. Mom continues to be somebody we can turn to at anytime for any issue. Dad, who sadly passed away on March 7, 2009, is, and will always be with us in our hearts.
-Robert Westle and Donna Westle Greenberg
ADDENDUM December 2015: Our mom, Gladys Lemanowitz Westle, passed away on November 27, 2015. She was the last surviving Lemanowitz sister. While we, her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews will miss her greatly, we are thankful for all of the love and “life's lessons” that she gave to us all.
The following text was prepared and read by Donna at our mom’s funeral on December 1, 2015.:
Our mom was born on August 10, 1927. She was the 6th daughter born into what is now referred to as a blended family. She was a first generation American born to Rose and Jacob who immigrated to America from Poland and Russia. Jake had 3 daughters from his first wife who died in childbirth after the 3rd daughter was born. Rose had 1 daughter from a previous marriage in Russia. With the assistance of a matchmaker, Rose and Jake met and married.
At first it was a business arrangement. Rose would become a mother to the 3 little girls, Sylvia, Sally and Esther and Jake would bring Roses daughter, Annette to America and adopt her. Together they had 2 more daughters, Beatrice and our mom, Gladys. Rumor has it that when the 6th daughter, our mom, was born Jake disappeared for a day or so. Slowly but surely through hard work and perseverance a family now built on love emerged. It didn't matter who was a half-sister or a stepsister. They were a family.
Our grandparents owned a candy store in West Philadelphia and our mother worked there after school most days. I think her strong work ethic was formed by watching how hard her parents worked and how they strived to assimilate into American culture while learning the English language.
After high school Mom got a job as a bookkeeper for Boston Candy Co. She continued in this line of work until she was forced to retire because of Glaucoma around 1986.
After World War II was over, she met our dad who was home from the war. He wouldn't leave her alone, followed her wherever she went until she finally gave in, went out with him and eventually married him in 1947. The love, respect and devotion for each other continued for the next 62 years.
We always said being married to our dad was a full time job for her. They had busy social lives together and my father was always active in something, which sucked our mom in along with him.
When Shakespeare wrote A Mid Summers Night Dream I'm pretty sure he didn't have our mom in mind when he said, “Though she be but little she be fierce.”
Marrying into the Westle family brought the fierceness out. I think she realized in order to survive in this family she'd have to show them that she wasn't a little 5 foot, 19 year old kid that could be taken advantage of. Shortly after her marriage, her new father in law told our mom that he took it upon himself to register her as a Republican because someone should be a democrat and someone a republican in the family, just to cover all bases. That didn't last very long. Mom gave her new father in law a piece of her mind, reregistered as a democrat and remained a proud democrat for the next 69 years. The fight was on. No one was going to run her life for her. She had a mind of her own and would make her own decisions.
She and my father discussed everything but somehow I believe that she influenced him most of the time. She was always ready to give you her point of view on any political topic. If she were invited to debate with Donald Trump, I have no doubt that he'd leave the room with his tail between his legs. She studied the sports page just so she could hold a conversation with Andy and hold up her end of the conversation.
Growing up with Gladys and Al as parents was a home with love, laughter and hard work for everything they achieved in life. Dad's bark was worse than his bite but mom was the disciplinarian. If we were in trouble she told us to sit down so she could let us have it. It's pretty hard to discipline your kids when they're towering over you. The one thing that was expected was education. We were told we don't care what you do as long as you have an education.
Eventually Rob and I married our spouses, and they were accepted without hesitation into the family. Both of our mom's parents had died before her 30th birthday so she lived a long time without them and recently began reminiscing about her family so much so that Rob & I are certain that the aides caring for mom over the last couple of months could repeat her family stories.
Eventually our own children were born and mom accepted her role as a grandmother to Andy, Jackie, Jessica and Lydia with pride. However, she made it quite clear that if we ever needed them in an emergency, they'd be there in a flash, but not to depend on them as our permanent babysitters. They had their own agenda. They began traveling more and were finally able to enjoy life's pleasures. They attended more than their fair share of little league baseball games, dance recitals, gymnastics, and watched all of us and the grandkids go off to proms and college.
Life is funny. One minute you're the youngest of 6 girls and then you find yourself the matriarch of your family. Mom had 10 nieces and nephews on her side. Someone was always keeping in touch with Aunt Gladys, picking her up taking her out for lunch or just to call and talk. After all, our mom was the last link to their moms and to some like a 2nd mother. One day a few years ago, her niece Sharon felt it was her responsibility to make sure my mom knew about “Fifty Shades of Grey.” So there I was downloading the trilogy onto her kindle. Then she expected to have a book discussion with me, Debbie, her granddaughters or anyone who would listen. None of us wanted to have that discussion, except Trish-- her hairdresser.
Our mom became a great grandmother 3 times with number 4 expected in a few weeks. As soon as Jessica left the hospital with little Milo on November 1, 2015, she drove straight to our mom’s home so she could hold him and see that both mom and baby were healthy. Jess, you did a mitzvah!!
The next day mom began to rapidly decline. We knew it would be expecting too much for her to hang on another few weeks to see Andy & Lauren's new baby. But I know that she'll be looking down and ensuring that everything goes as planned and expected.
Back in the 60's mom became fixated on a movie called “They Shoot Horses, Don't They?”. For over 40 years my brother and I have always known that if it ever became obvious that she'd be unable to live her life independently, enjoy it and be a part of it, then we were to honor her wishes. We reached that point this past year and my only regret is that we couldn't make it happen faster for her. This was not her idea of living. So while many people may have questioned our mother's decision to not seek further medical treatments, my brother and I never gave it a second thought.
In order to honor her wishes though, required keeping her at home with a tremendous support system. Without Bebe, Joan and Natalie, our “Dream Team” from Home Care Options, this wouldn't have been possible. They cared for her as if they were caring for their own mother.
A most special thank you to Holy Redeemer Hospice. Maryellen Kane was our mom's primary care nurse. She and mom had an agreement--There would be no sugar coating the facts, and that mom needed to be in control of the situation until the end. Maryellen respected mom, looked her straight in the eyes while holding her hands and talking to her, and mom respected her back.
Over the years “mom”, “gi”, “grams” or “grandmom”, she answered to all of them, was known for giving all of us a dose of her wisdom. Or as she would call it “Life's Lessons.” All of our kids wrote something and we felt that we'd like to share some of “Gi's Words of Wisdom.”:
“Eat healthy by not having bacon, fried foods, etc in your healthy food list.
Floss after each meal.
Exercise. Walking is great
If you adhere to the above, you will be in good shape to use your personal survival kit- Never Leave home without it!”
“Remember be aware of your surroundings when going out. Keep pepper spray or mace handy. If you need to defend yourself, gauge the eyes but don't break your fingernails. Twist the attacker below the waist, blow a whistle to attract attention and also scream loud.”
“When going to a cemetery, do not ever drink any kind of liquid if you're not sure of the availability of rest rooms.”
“Remember that when you walk out the door, you are a reflection of your father and me. Live up to it!”
Mom was also a poet:
“Religious we’re not
That may be true
But pride in our heritage makes us proud to be a Jew. Don't ever forget it.”
To Lauren on her first Mother's Day:
“When our precious Brielle was born I was so excited that I was remiss in acknowledging your 1st Mother's Day. Soo, continue being a wonderful mommy and remember to be her friend and not her girlfriend. Love you, Brielle's GG”
And lastly Jackie seemed to sum it up best.:
“We are incredibly thankful to have you as our grandmother. You may have been travel size, but your wisdom and no - holds-barred approach was larger than life and passed on to all of us. We love you and "so long”, because as you would tell me, goodbye is just too permanent.”
