Hortense J Perler

Hortense June Perler was born June 12, 1924 in New York City, and raised on Riverside Drive. Transplanted to Los Angeles during WWII, she was proud to be a New Yorker. Hortense was an only child, but her mother was the youngest of 11 so she grew surrounded by a large and close-knit family. The enduring passions of her life: community service, family, and art were fostered amid the family gatherings and the daily comings and goings of her cousins, aunts, and uncles.

The post WWII era in Los Angeles was exciting and fast-paced and Hortense jumped in with gusto. She was working at I.Magnin, training to become a buyer when she met a young man at a temple dance. She married Julius Perler, the love of her life. Together they raised three children. Once her children were on their way in the world, Hortense returned to college herself, earning a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Sociology from UCLA.

Throughout her life, the spirit of selfless service inspired her contribute to the building of hospitals through her work with Hadassah and contribute to schools through her work with Organization for Education Resources and Technological Training. Her natural talent for organization and her vision for what people can create working together developed when she served as the Southern California regional President of Hadassah and the president of her local chapter Organization for Education Resources and Technological Training in Oceanside, California.

Hortense loved world travel, fashion, and art. Along with her husband, she traveled through Europe and Asia. She was sensitive to beauty and both appreciated and created it everywhere she went. Wherever she lived, the house and surrounding land was transformed into a work of art. She had a discerning eye for fashion and even in her last days was interested in the new trends. Forever young at heart, her favorite TV shows were "Dancing with the Stars" and "Keeping Up with the Kardashians".

Hortense is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Barbara Perler; daughter and son-in-law, Joanne Perler and Joseph Cook; and daughter Michelle Steiny; and grandchildren Aaron and Grant Perler.

A graveside service will be held Sunday, November 11, 2012 at 12:30 pm at Eternal Hills Memorial Park, 1999 El Camino Real, Oceanside, California 92054.

In lieu of flowers tributes in her memory can be made to Hadassah at 1-800-928-0685; or ORT, Care of Ruth Mann, 4956 Lassen Dr, Oceanside, California 92056.