Hildegarde "Bugger" Levy Cohn

Hildegarde "Bugger" Levy Cohn, 3rd generation native Houstonian, was born on the 16th of March 1921, in Houston, and passed away Saturday, the 16th of November 2013, at The Houston Hospice after a brief illness. Bugger attended Montrose Elementary, Johnston Jr High and graduated from San Jacinto High School in 1938.

Bugger was the 4th child of Ben M and Mabel Lipper Levy who predeceased her. She grew up in a lively household on Sul Ross with her siblings Florence "Big", Hortense "Tee" and Ben M. Jr., "Bubba" who later became Michael Laurence a professional Opera singer.

Bugger married Burton Cohn of St Louis on the 23rd of September 1940, and they moved to Kansas City where Burt was in the retail business. There they had their first daughter, Carol Lee. The Houston retail scene brought them back to Houston in 1944 when Burt joined Palais Royal and then Foley's. They were blessed with 2 more girls, Kathryn Ann and Constance Louise.

In their later years they travelled extensively, preferring cruises with close friends. They socialized constantly with friends from the "Old Braeswood" neighborhood. Their home, at 2410 Bluebonnet, became a hangout for many generations.

Bugger was predeceased by family members who she loved and adored. Her parents, Mabel and Ben; her sisters and their husbands, Big and Bubba Efron Tee and Sol Leff; brother Michael Laurence; and her handsome husband, Burt Cohn, who died in 1993.

She made a new life for herself when she met Ernie Goldschmidt on a Synagogue "singles" trip in 1995. They were together for 18 years until Ernie passed away at the age of 98, just a few months ago. Ernie, his children, Diane and Stanley Novy, and their children, were truly family to Bugger and her girls.

Bugger is survived by her loving daughters and their husbands, Carol and Ken Sugarman, Kathy and Tim Knott and Connie and Bud Pollon; adoring grandchildren, Michael Sugarman, Andy Sugarman, Dan and Amy Sugarman Weingart, Jay and Leslie Cordray; precious great grandchildren, Ethan, Claire and Lindsay Weingart, and Annie Cordray who was born 3 weeks ago and who was able to meet Bugger 6 days before her death. Bugger is also survived by her nieces and nephews, the Leff and Efron children, their spouses and their own children and grandchildren. Thank you to each of them for making her feel so very special every single day.

A Memorial Service, to remember Bugger, is to be conducted at half-past eleven o’clock in the morning on Tuesday, the 19th of November, at Congregation Beth Israel, 5600 North Braeswood Boulevard in Houston, where Senior Rabbi David A. Lyon is to officiate with Cantor Daniel Mutlu assisting.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to the charity of one’s choice.