Maliette Landau Wolens

Born in Strasbourg, France, on May 1, 1929, and passed away on October 27 at her home in Plano. A woman of great class and beauty who had many friends and loved to entertain them all, Maliette derived her greatest joy from her three sons, two daughters-in-law and 11 grandchildren, all of who adored their “Omi.”

Maliette was the younger of two daughters born to Salomon and Helena Landau, both of Polish descent. The Landaus were part of a vibrant Jewish community in Strasbourg, a city on the border of France and Germany, where Salomon, a textile manufacturer, was active in the local chamber of commerce. In September 1939, Strasbourg was evacuated when France and England declared war on Germany – two days after Hitler invaded Poland, where many of Maliette’s extended family subsequently died in the Holocaust. Maliette and her family drove across France, part of an endless caravan of refugees who threw photos, pieces of clothing and other mementos onto the roads, hoping that other family members would see them and follow.

For the next two years, the Landaus tried desperately to leave France, joining hundreds of thousands of other Jewish refugees who were not permitted entry by other countries. The Landaus finally booked passage to Martinique on one of the last refugee ships to leave Marseille, but the ship was stopped by the British Navy and directed to dock in Trinidad, where Maliette and her family lived in gender-segregated detention camps for three months. They subsequently boarded a ship that took them to Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Panama before being allowed to dock in Mexico. Her family settled in Mexico City, and Maliette and her sister Rose both graduated high school from American private schools.

When Maliette was 18, on a trip to Texas to visit her older sister who had married an American, she was introduced to a young man from Corsicana, Jay Wolens, whose family owned the K.Wolens department stores in Texas. They married in June 1948, and Maliette became one of the few residents of Corsicana who could speak fluent French, German, Spanish, English and Yiddish. She became extremely involved in the local Jewish community in Corsicana and was well known for her wonderful home cooking and festive, piñata birthday parties for her three boys. The family moved to Dallas in 1968 so the boys could attend Akiba Academy and St. Mark’s School of Texas. Maliette stayed active in Hadassah and became a lifetime member of Congregation Shearith Israel Sisterhood. She also taught private Spanish and Yiddish lessons.

Maliette was pre-deceased by her parents and her best friend, her sister Rose. She is survived by her son Steve Wolens (wife Laura Miller) of Dallas, son Gary Wolens of London, and son Keenan Wolens (wife Orna) of Los Angeles, and her grandchildren: Frederic, Ariella, Alex, Alana, Lily, Zachary, Ethan, Jared, Sophia, Max, and Raquel. Maliette is also survived by Rose’s son Alan Weinkrantz, who she considered her fourth son; her sisters-in-law Charlotte Schuman and Jackie Mazow, and her cousin Henry Salz. She leaves seven additional nieces and nephews, including Miles Schuman, whose long and frequent visits these last few years brought her great joy.

Maliette’s last eight years have been enormously richer due to the painstaking love and devotion from Maureen, who has become a cherished member of the family. Enormous gratitude is also given to Dr. Mark Fleschler for his constant attention and compassion.

A funeral service will be held on October 29 at 2 p.m. at Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery, followed by a short burial service.

Maliette often said: “Don’t send flowers to my funeral; send them to me while I’m alive.” In lieu of memorials, please send flowers to someone you love.