Mara Ruth Genoff Melamed

Mara Ruth Melamed, age 94, beloved wife of the late Rabbi Irvin Mordecai

Melamed. Mother of David Michael Melamed and Caleb Joseph (Selma)

Melamed. Grandmother of Eugenie Vivian Melamed. Sister of the late Vera

Margolis. Mara was born in Macklin, Saskatchewan, Canada, and grew up in

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Her father was a physician specializing in eye, ear,

nose, and throat, and her mother was a schoolteacher. Before World War II, she

spent several years in England, studying at Dartington Hall and also residing in

London. After returning to Canada, Mara moved to Chicago where she married

Rabbi Melamed and raised her devoted children.

Mara received an M.A. in social work from the University of Chicago.

Her first social work position was at the Jewish Children’s Bureau,

where she helped to place for adoption child survivors of the Holocaust.

Later, Mara worked as a medical social worker at the University of Chicago, Mount

Sinai, St. Joseph and Northwestern hospitals, and also taught classes in social

work. She gained distinction as a tenacious advocate for patients. Mara was an

accomplished violinist and ballerina. She was also an outstanding sculptor and had

a great interest in architecture and fashion design. Mara was a woman of

integrity, intelligence, and spirit. Graveside funeral services will be held Sunday at

11 am at Zion Gardens Cemetery, Mt. Isaiah Israel Section, 6758 W. Addison St.

(East of Oak Park Ave.), Chicago. For information: Piser Funeral Service 847-679-4740