Lona Freedman Cohen

Lona Fischer Freedman Cohen, 81, died peacefully with her family by her side on Saturday, July 9th, 2011 at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA. Funeral services will be held at Beth Israel Congregation, 5315 Old Canton Road in Jackson, Mississippi at 10 am on Wednesday, July 13th with interment immediately following at Beth Israel Cemetery on North State Street.

Lona Cohen was born on July 2, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois, to Beatrice and John Fischer. She was a resident of Jackson from 1961-1988, and Los Angeles for the remainder of her life. She was married to Jack Freedman from 1949 until his death in 1986. Lona married Stanley Cohen in 1990. They celebrated their 21st anniversary in January of this year.

Lona cherished her family; her husbands, six children, sixteen grandchildren, her great-grandchild, and the many others who joined the Fischer/Freedman/Cohen family. Family members have fond memories of all the visits, vacations, and holidays shared together.

Lona was an accomplished baker (her grandchildren now enjoy her original cookbook), world traveler, competitive card player, and expert Grandmother. She was a long-time member of Beth Israel Congregation where she and many of her children and grandchildren celebrated life cycle events together. She also was a member of Beth Israel’s Sisterhood and Hadassah.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jack Freedman, and son Bennett Freedman.

Her survivors include husband, Stanley Cohen; brother, Henry M. (Mickey) Fischer (Sandy); children, Dr. Barbara Avishay (Stephen Strocker), James Freedman (Suzanne), Dana Larkin (Jonathan), Sandy Burt (Michael Ponzo), Jene Silver, and Rene Radetsky (Michael). She is also survived by her grandchildren, Jason (Stefanie), Ari (Brooke), and Jenna Avishay; Jacob, Gabriel, and Maya Freedman; Alexis Larkin Schwartz (Aaron) and Brianna Larkin; Jaclyn and Ethan Freedman; Danielle, Ross and Jake Silver; and Jillian, Madelyn, and Alyson Radetsky; and her great grandson, Asher Avishay.