Edith "Edie" Loebenberg

Edie, as she was known to family and friends alike, was welcomed into the world March 1, 1926, by her parents Jules (d. April, 1976) and Ida (d. September, 1986) Lowengard in Darmstadt, Germany. She passed without pain and in peace surrounded by friends and family April 19, 2010 in St. Petersburg, Florida, from complications of a stroke. Edie survived the Holocaust to lead a full and rich life. In 1933 her hometown of Darmstadt was the first town in Germany to order shops owned by Jews to close. Her immediate family including her sister, Marion Lowengard Samson Joseph, who survives her, decided to leave Germany, finally escaping in 1938. After becoming established in America, Edie became a US citizen February 11, 1944, just a few weeks before her 18th birthday; on the day that the Allied powers restored Italian civilian government to Sicily and Sardinia. After WWII ended, she married a decorated WWII veteran who was also a refugee from the Nazis, Walter Paul Loebenberg, on June 20, 1948. In the fullness of time the love and passion they shared produced three children: Michael Jay Loebenberg, David Alan Loebenberg, and Sandra Lynn Mermelstein. All were at her bedside joined by her daughter-in-law, Teresa Loebenberg, and Sandra's partner, Kent "Scooter" Bontly. She is also survived by her grandchildren Joshua Aron Loebenberg, Eric Daniel Loebenberg, Jacob Robert Loebenberg, Angelica Lynn Loebenberg, Zachary Seth Loebenberg, Ari Jonathan Mermelstein, Jared Seth Mermelstein, and Kenneth Robert (Priscilla) Loebenberg, and their son and Edie's great-grandson Walter Andrew Loebenberg. As their family grew, Edie and Walter moved from Chicago, IL to Encino, CA and finally settled in St. Petersburg. Not content with sharing her heart only with her family, Edie passionately worked in many ways to improve the conditions of every community in which she lived. In St. Petersburg, she was a member of the Sisterhood of Congregation B'nai Israel, Hadassah, the Jewish National Fund (where she also served on the Board of Directors), and in her later years would meet with fifth graders at the Florida Holocaust Museum to recount to them first hand life experiences in Nazi Germany relating what it was like to experiences state sponsored discrimination even to the point of death. For her lifelong efforts in so many areas, Edie received the Tree of Life award from the Jewish National Fund in 1999, the 2002 Humanitarian Award from the Golda Meir/Kent Jewish Center, and earned the affection of all she touched. With her husband she was also honored by the Florida Holocaust Museum which calls its highest award, the Loebenberg Humanitarian Award, after them. Along with her sister, she was jointly the major contributor to the Ida and Jules Lowengard synagogue at Menorah Manor. She was a member of both the Congregation B'nai Israel and Temple Beth-El synagogues. Her husband remarked to anyone who would listen that he owed his success to Edie's ability to remember the names of all their friends and contacts. She was indispensable to him and at his side at every occasion. Edie doted on her children and traveled with them and her husband Walter to destinations all over the globe. Her favorite color was blue and she was an accomplished cook. After her children and her travel, sports were her primary personal interest and her excitement in the game was second to none. Edie's services will be held 2 PM Wednesday, April 21st at Congregation B'nai Israel, 300 58th Street North, St. Petersburg. Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Park, 12905 Wild Acres Road, Largo. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her honor to the Florida Holocaust Museum or to the charity of the donor's choice to continue her lifelong desire of improving every aspect of the community she loved so well. May this kind and gentle soul rest in peace. Shiva will be observed from the Loebenberg residence Wednesday after services, and Thursday. Minyan will be 7:45PM each evening. Fron the Chicago German/English Jewish paper, Friday, January 30, 1948 Mr. and Mrs. Jules Lowengard are very happy to announce the engagement of their daughter Edith to Walter P. Loebenberg son of Mr. and Mrs. David Loebenberg on January 20, 1948 5231 Kimbark Ave. 5306 Woodlawn Ave Chicago Darmstadt David C. Gross Funeral Home is serving the family. Service Information