Beatrice (Bobbie) Reiter

Beatrice Reiter, known as Grandma, Mom and Bobbie to her family and friends, was born in Brooklyn, NY on February 2, 1920 to Isador and Ida Beninson - immigrants from a small farming village just outside of Minsk, Belarus. Her parents were a hard working couple who raised Mom, and her two brothers - Joe (the eldest) and Seymour who survives her. Mom attended Canarsie High School and proceeded to go to work in women's fashion retail. She met my dad, who grew up himself locally during the early days of World War II and the two were married on June 16, 1946.

Mom and Dad started out their married lives in a small one bedroom ground floor apartment in Brooklyn, then within a couple years wound up moving to her parent's chicken farm in Jackson, NJ - just across the country road from her brother Seymour's farm in order to save some money and to help her parents. It was there in 1952 their son Stephen was born.

The young couple moved back to Brooklyn in 1955, with mom electing to be a full time homemaker. On February 27, 1959 they had a baby girl Ina named in honor of her Mom. While financially challenged, she elected to be a stay at home Mom to take care of the two children, living in a 4 story walk up apartment on a dead end street. In 1961 the family moved to an Electrical Union Housing Project called Electchester in Flushing, Queens - where they lived for 43 years when they moved to Dallas.

Those years in Queens were good as Bobbie continued in her primary role as loving wife and mother for Steve and Ina. When Ina was in 4th grade she elected to take a position once again in women's retailer in sales in a local dress shop, where she could go to work after the children left for school and be back in the apartment by 3 PM. It was during these years, that Mom saved money that would later aid them to send Ina to Nursing School and provide retirement income that would enable them to be comfortable during those years.

Mom continued to work locally, until the children were out of the home, when she took a position one block from the World Trade Center for a number of years as well as another high end retail location in Jackson Heights, NY - we remember visiting her in these locations and hearing many women asking specifically for Bobbie to serve them - based on the attention and fashion style she seemed to love. Years later she retired from retail, but was not ready to stop serving - therefore Mom volunteered in the Oncology ward at Flushing Hospital for over a decade, receiving awards and commendation for her work in a very tough assignment. We think of all her years working - this was the job she was most proud of.

Mom was blessed with a long loving relationship with her man - Ellis, being married together for 62 years when he passed on. Her two children took the cue for loving their spouses for a lifetime and in turn pass on the life lessons that Mom taught. Here is the family that came from the love of these 2 special people:

Stephen married Mary and had three children - who each married and have the following great grandchildren:

David married Andi - Gage, Kailyn and Aiden
Cheryl married Matt - Jacob and Zachary
Tara married Dan - Hannah
Ina married Harvey and had two children - one is married and one is engaged:
Jason is engaged to Camille
Lisa is married to CJ - Quetta with a boy due in 2 weeks

Mom was challenged by Stephen marrying a young lady in 1971 named Mary, who was not of the Jewish faith, yet over the years the relationship between the two great women not only became one of a daughter in law and her mother in law - it became a relationship based on love and respect. In Mom's words last Thursday as she said her goodbyes, she wanted Mary to remember how much she loved her and thanked her for all her sacrifices. It was the next day, our Pastor Eric Johnson, who Mom loved very much - led her to eternal life.

While we miss her already - this feisty lady who had a very unique way of loving, we now know that she is in the arms of her Lord and Savior.

In closing, let me share a few thoughts that came from her grandchildren on the night she passed into eternity:

I may not always be right, but I am never wrong
Grandma always found good in her loved ones
She made the best brisket ever - worth the trip from anywhere
Never forgot special occasions - even when she had the date wrong
While Grandma lost most of her eyesight, she could hear an ant walking
She always made the ones she loved feel so special, saying things like my little princess or my handsome boy
She put everyone else above herself, she was about the family - not herself
She was devoted to her husband for 62 years

Family will receive friends for visitation Friday, October 1, 2010 from 6-8:00 p.m. at Allen Family Funeral Options. A funeral service to celebrate Bobbie's life will be held Saturday, October 2, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at The Life Church, 13701 Hillcrest Rd., Dallas, Texas 75240, officiated by Pastor Eric Johnson. Bobbie will be laid to rest at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Dallas.