Mrs. Eleanor B Hammer

COLUMBIA Longtime Columbia resident Eleanor Bernstein Hammer, 95, died peacefully on Tuesday, October 7, 2014, surrounded by her family. Affectionately known as "Aunt El" to her many nieces, nephews and their friends, she was born in 1919 in Summerville, S. C. Daughter of the late Sam and Bessie Bernstein, both Eastern European immigrants who arrived in South Carolina during the first decade of the 20th century, she, with her family, moved to Columbia when she was ten years old and where she has since resided. Eleanor attended McMaster Elementary School and Wardlaw Jr. High and graduated from Columbia High School. She attended the University of South Carolina. In 1941 at a Beth Shalom Synagogue social event, she met Henry Hammer, whom she married in 1942. Together with her late husband, Eleanor was active in civic and community activities, serving as a lifetime member of Hadassah and twice served as president of the Beth Shalom Synagogue Sisterhood and its predecessor, the Daughters of Israel. Throughout her life Eleanor Hammer was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend. For more than 50 years she lovingly hosted family and friends for dinners on the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah (New Year) and Passover Seders. Eleanor is survived by three sons, Howard of Columbia, and his sons, David and Michael Hammer, Stanley and Judith Hammer of Greensboro, N.C., Alvin Hammer and Dr. Juliet Goldman of Charleston; stepgrandchildren, Dr. Phoebe Cushman and Brett Berkman of Boston, Mass.; nieces and nephews, among whom are Dr. Herbert Niestat, Michele Bernstein Perrick and her children, Dana and Rebecca, Dr. Hilary Bernstein, Lowell Bernstein, Dr. Anne Bernstein, Beth Bernstein and her children, Caroline and Isabel, Eddie Niestat, Debbie Niestat and Beth Niestat; and by numerous Hammer and Landau family nieces and nephews. Eleanor was predeceased by her husband, Henry Hammer; siblings, Isadore Bernstein, Irene Bernstein and Rachael Bernstein; and nephew, Samuel Keith Bernstein. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 8, 2014, at Beth Shalom Synagogue, with burial in Hebrew Benevolent Cemetery. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to Beth Shalom Synagogue, 5827 N, Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC 29206.