Bessie was born in Hempstead on March 11, 1921, the second of 3 children, 7 years after her sister, Rosetta. Their parents both worked in their dry goods store, so Rosetta was responsible for Bess. Bess was always close to her little brother, Marvin, who was born 2 years later. They enjoyed the small town life and graduated from high school there. During World War ll the family moved to Houston. Bess worked at Battlesteins until she met and married Sidney, a handsome young widower with two young boys. Their mother died during the polio epidemic following the birth of their son. Sidney brought to the marriage Ralph, then 8, and Lynn, then 4, and Bess accepted them as her own. She worked hard at being the best mother, wife and homemaker she could. Cooking, cleaning, bike rides, and driving the boys to Hebrew School. The boys grew, finished college, married and had their own families. Too soon, Sidney lost a battle with cancer. Bess sold her home and moved to assisted living. She loved to walk until sciatica robbed her of mobility. She continued to exercise, greet everyone with a smile and earn the term “sweet Aunt Bess.”
Bess is survived by sons Ralph (Georgia), Lynn (Judi). Bess was a grandmother of four, Kelli Leventhal, Lesli Buihner, Brian Leventhal (Erin), and Rachel Rimar (Phil) and a great-grandmother of six, Sydney Leventhal, Sydni Buihner, Henry Leventhal, Brynlee Rimar, Anniston Rimar and Sadie Rimar. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
The Leventhal family would like to thank the Gardens of Bellaire Assisted Living where Bess resided for the past seven years for the care they gave and especially for the compassion and attention given during her final weeks. We would be remiss if we failed to thank Terry Calderon for her companionship for the past eleven years and Norma Garcia for her companionship for the past two years. We thank you and appreciate you from the bottom of our hearts. You were both a blessing to Bess and her family. We also thank Bess’ nephew David and wife Jody, for taking care of much of Bess’ daily responsibilities over the years, as Bess wished. Rest in peace.
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