Bernice "Tootsie" Klass

Bernice Klass was born Bernice Fingerhut, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on February 22, 1926. Her parents were William Fingerhut and Freda Fingerhut. (Batya bat Zev v' Freidel.) She had a sister, Fran ("Ziporach") Dworsky, and brother, Aaron ("Arnie") Fingerhut. She was married to Alfred Klass, and had five sons, Mark, Gary, David, Robert, and Gordon. Thereafter, she was married to Dr. Leo Kaplan, M.D. She has her 4 sons, Gary (Robin), David (Tracy), Robert (Amy), and Gordon (Lori); her grandchildren, Michael (Heather), William (Macarena), Rebecca (Gian), Jessica (Josh), Haley, Corey, Ryan, Spencer; Justin (fiancee Samantha), Courtney (Matt), and Grant; and her great-grandchildren, Brady, Chase, Mia, Matthew, Charlie, and Phoenix. Toots was a very loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother; and a friend to many.

Toots was always surrounded by Family and friends, and she loved to entertain. Toots threw lots of Family Parties, she was a balabusta, loving to cook and be the hostess for Family Jewish simchas, (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur break the fast, Chanukah, Passover Seder), for birthday parties, and all were welcomed with open arms. Toots was very involved in volunteer charitable fundraising events for the Mark Klass Chapter of the City of Hope. She enjoyed playing mah jongg with her girlfriends, being the Tri City Jewish Center Sisterhood bowling teams' captain (with a 220 high score), in Rock Island, Illinois; and playing late night blackjack gaming in the Las Vegas casinos (Chumash, & San Manuel); and enjoying afternoons at Santa Anita Park, among many other things.

Toots will be missed by many that knew and loved her, she cannot be replaced. Hopefully, she is with Leo in Heaven.

Funeral services for Tootsie will be held Thursday, January 4, 2018 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Groman Eden Mortuary, in the Groman Eden Chapel. Services will be officiated by Rabbi Michael Barclay, and will conclude graveside in Eden Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Tootsie's memory may be made to City of Hope. www.cityofhope.org

Arrangements are under the guidance of Groman Eden Mortuary.