Thelma Lieber

Thelma was born on July 23, 1932 to her loving parents, Mollie and Louis Rothberg. Thelma’s brother, Norman, was born 3 years later, and she savored her role as older sister. She spent her formative years in Boro Park, Brooklyn, attending New Utrecht High School. Upon graduation, Thelma worked at Met Life doing data processing on the early room-sized computers.

Thelma met her future husband Sol Lieber at a singles event in the Catskills. They were married in 1954. They lived in close range to Thelma’s parents and shared bringing up their eldest children, Alan and his cousin Scott, with her brother and sister-in-law, Arlene.

In 1965, Thelma and Sol moved to the Lakeridge development in Old Bridge, New Jersey. They welcomed their daughter Ellen into their home in 1966. Thelma relished the role of mother and housewife. Family was the center of Thelma’s life. She fully immersed herself in raising Alan and Ellen, caring for her parents and Sol’s family, creating a warm Jewish home, and celebrating holidays. She was active in her synagogue, Temple Beth Or, using her keen eye and good taste to run the synagogue gift shop. She loved Lenox china and Yadro. Thelma fulfilled a life-long dream of becoming a Bat Mitzvah when she ascended the bima and read Torah. Her other interests included bowling and working with miniatures. She was later employed at her friend’s dollhouse and miniature store in Matawan where she built miniature furniture and helped clients furnish their dollhouses. She was honored as a life member of Hadassah.

Thelma was eager to become a grandparent which Alan and Alice obliged with the birth of Mitch and Claire. Ellen and Carl enlarged the family with the addition of Fiona, Ivy, and Bella. As a doting grandmother, Thelma loved to shop for the grandchildren, play games, read books, and share holidays. The family has many happy memories of visits to the pool at the Greenbriar, Chanukah parties, and family Seders.

In her fifties, Thelma was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. With Sol’s active participation, she learned about MS, attended support groups, and took advantage of assistive technology to help with her mobility and daily function. She accepted her diagnosis and found ways to live life to the fullest within her abilities. The battle against MS became a family cause with Alan and Ellen participating in MS walks, and Alan and Alice riding in the MS Country Challenge.

Thelma and Sol moved to the Jewish Home Assisted Living in 2011 after declining health limited their ability to live independently. Thelma was seen constantly motoring through the facility in her Jazzy, attending classes, lectures, and her beloved movies. She sought to meet every resident and to get to know all of the staff. Her kindness, interest in others, and humor were appreciated by all who knew her.

In 2017, Thelma lost her husband of 63 years. While experiencing the loneliness of widowhood, Thelma nevertheless maintained her cheerful countenance and zest for conversation. She enjoyed weekly outings to Crecco’s and Adam’s Bagels with Alan and Ellen’s families, generally ordering something with bacon to satisfy this late-in-life craving.

In her last years, Thelma weathered a bout of COVID, the pandemic lockdown, abdominal surgery, and pneumonia with incredible resilience. She passed away on August 16 after a short illness.

Thelma’s family and friends will remember her joy in conversation, genuine interest in others, kind heart, and her unbounded, unconditional love.

Zichron l’vracha. May her memory be a blessing.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.guttermanandmusicant.com for the Lieber family.

WEBCAST: https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTY5MjI5Mzk4NjI2NzI4NiZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==

SHIVA will be at Alan and Alice’s home: 4 Sun Watch Court, Ramsey, NJ

Sunday, August 20 from 3-5:30 and 7-9 pm

Monday, August 21 from 3-5:30 and 7-9 pm