Celia (Kishner) Weiss

Celia “Tzila” Weiss died peacefully on October 31, 2024, in Pacific Grove, California, just one week shy of her 100th birthday. Her daughter Elaine was honored to be her vigil companion for the last days of her life.

Tzila was born in New York City to Eliezer Kishner and Esther Rabinowitz Kishner, immigrants from Ukraine who escaped pogroms to settle initially in British Mandate Palestine; then, sponsored by Esther’s older brother David, they entered the United States at Ellis Island. In 1933, Tzila, her younger sister Menucha, and their parents emigrated to British Mandate Palestine, but returned to the United States in 1937. They made their home in Louisville, Kentucky where Eliezer had found a position as a Hebrew school teacher.

When Tzila was a senior at Louisville Girls High School she met Bernie Weiss, from the Bronx, New York, a pre-med student at the University of Louisville. They married three years later, on September 10, 1944, before her senior year at U of L and Bernie’s final year at U of L School of Medicine.

Tzila majored in chemistry, which she always claimed made her an excellent baker. Her dinner guests agreed; she always baked two cakes for dessert so her guests could choose between a sophisticated European pastry and what everyone called “chocolate, with chocolate, plus chocolate, and then a little more chocolate on top.” Tzila had a strong creative streak which she channeled into weaving, needlework, couture sewing, jewelry-making, and gardening. She was also an avid reader of fiction; her favorite author was Jane Austen and she could quote long passages from memory.

Tzila is survived by her daughter, Elaine Weiss and son-in-law, Neal Whitman, of Pacific Grove, and sister Menucha Boomer of Silver Spring Maryland. She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Bernie Weiss, with whom she shared a devoted marriage for nearly 50 years until his untimely and unexpected death in December 1993.

Elaine and Neal would like to thank the staff at Canterbury Woods, where Celia lived for 18 years, as well as Hospice of the Central Coast. Donations may be made to Hospice of the Central Coast in Celia’s memory.