Memorial
Marianne Adelheid Bern, 94, of Cedar Rapids, died peacefully holding her beloved children’s hands, Tuesday February 21, 2017 at Cottage Grove Place. Services: 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 24, at Temple Judah with Rabbi Todd Thalblum. Burial will follow at Eben Israel Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.
Survivors include her daughter, Jennifer Bern-Vogel and husband Ira Vogel of Los Angeles, California; her son, Dan Bern and wife Danielle Lesniewski of Saratoga Springs, New York; her sister, Eve Roberts of London, England; her grandchildren Sam E. Vogel and Lulu Pepper Juliana Bern; her nieces, Susan Hamlyn and Lynn Roberts Watson, both of London, England; and her nephew, John Bernstein (and wife Hanne) of Copenhagen, Denmark. Also surviving are dear and enduring Mt. Vernon friends, Gusti Kollman and Vivian Heywood; loyal and devoted friends, Lena Gilbert, Tony Smith and Dot Hinman; and many more cherished friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved husband, Julian Bern (Yehuda Bernstein) piano professor emeritus at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon.
Marianne was born August 18, 1922 in Bielefeld, Germany, the daughter of Willy and Selma (Zehden) Katzenstein. She and her sister Eve were fortunate to be on one of the last Kindertransports (train and boat) out of Nazi Germany in 1939, and were welcomed safely as refugees in England. She married Julian Bern on May 31, 1952 in London, England. Before working as a secretary for many years at Cornell College, Marianne was proud of her work with the World Jewish Congress in London and Geneva, Switzerland. A lifelong linguist, Marianne enjoyed proofreading in many languages. She had a passionate love of music, literature, and all the arts. She belonged to the Community Theater in Mt. Vernon and Cedar Rapids; the Ingleside Book Club of Mt. Vernon; the Wednesday Shakespeare Club; the League of Women’s Voters; and was a longtime member of Temple Judah in Cedar Rapids.
Memorials may be made to the Joan & David Thaler Holocaust Memorial Fund in care of Temple Judah; or Hospice of Mercy.
Marianne’s family would like to extend a special thanks to the gentle, caring staff of Cottage Grove Place, as well as Hospice of Mercy, for the loving care and attention bestowed upon Marianne.