Laurette H. Gensler Obituary (1926 - 2013)

Laurette Hava Gensler, born December 25, 1926. Died peacefully at her home in Los Angeles after a short illness on August 24, 2013. Daughter of Harry and Charlotte Gensler of Minneapolis. Laurette – Aunty Laur – grew up in Minneapolis and moved to Los Angeles in 1949. She lived for a short time at the Hamburger Home, where she made many life-long friends. She was the founder and director of the Co-op Nursery School at Ramona Gardens in Los Angeles, obtained her MSW at UCLA and worked at Los Angeles County – USC Medical Center as a psychiatric social worker for 31 years. She was also in private practice as a clinical social worker for many years, worked for private charities caring for children of AIDS mothers, and volunteered in several organizations helping underprivileged and disabled people. Although she was blind, Laurette was extremely active and independent, was a wonderful host, had a wide range of interests and loved to travel, attend the theatre, the LA Philharmonic, museums and especially gatherings of family and friends. She loved music, and especially loved playing music and singing for children. Everyone valued her wisdom, her kind heart, and her way of making young people feel special. Family and Jewish life were important to her. She also found peace in meditation. Throughout her life she strongly believed in and supported causes that championed equality for all people. Laurette’s eyesight was poor but her vision was immaculate. Preceded in death by sister, Yvette Gertz; brother, Elliott Gensler; niece, Carla Meyers. Survived by nephew, Howard Gertz (Liz), nephew, Steve Gensler (Peni), niece, Charlotte Gensler Labofsky (Arnold), nephew, Gregory Gertz (Dale), nephew, Greg Meyers, nephew, Mitchell Gensler (Debbie); grandnieces and grandnephews, Rachel Gertz, Matthew Gertz, Marc Gensler (Hanna), Brent Gensler (fiancé Marni Rutman), Andrew Meyers, Elissa Meyers, Rachael Hoffman (David), Joshua Labofsky (Lorrie), Evie Gertz, Vivian Gertz, Alex Gertz, Elliot Gensler, Jessica Gensler; great-grandnephews, Eli Gensler, Avery Hoffman, Ryan Hoffman. Also survived by Joel and Devorah Weinberger and their children, Dovid, Yehuda, Mordechai, Tzippy, Aliza and Esther; by dear cousins and by numerous dear friends. Funeral services will be held WEDNESDAY, 3:00 PM, MINNEAPOLIS JEWISH CEMETERY CHAPEL, 7032 Penn Ave. S., Richfield. Memorial service at Temple Beth Am, 1039 S. La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90035 at a date to be determined after Yom Kippur. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Elliott and Ruth Gensler Memorial Fund at Adath Jeshurun Congregation, 10500 Hillside Lane W, Minnetonka, MN 55305; or Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles (jfsla.org), Attn: Suzy Bookbinder, Director of Resource Development, 3580 Wilshire Boulevard, 7th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010; or Jewish Healing and Hospice Center of Los Angeles (jhcla.org), 10573 W. Pico Blvd., Suite 850, Los Angeles, CA 90064; or United Way (liveunited.org). SHIVA: Adath Jeshurun Congregation (Wednesday 6:30 PM).