11/18/12 1 year later...I miss you so much!!!

In Memory of

Muriel Zelda Fessinger

Obituary

Muriel Zelda Fessinger was born on September 17th 1924 in Denver, Colorado. She was the youngest and last surviving of four daughters born to Hyman G. and Salina (Lena) nee, Richards, Simons. Muriel passed away peacefully in the first hour of the morning of November 18th 2011. Muriel reveled in her life as wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her innate talent for fashion, color coordination and most of all style did not go unnoticed by the young Louis Fessinger, store manager of Franklin's Department store in El Paso, Texas. Muriel and Louis were married on April 20th 1942 and raised their three children in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They owned and operated Lynn's women's apparel store from 1948 until 1969 when Louis died. In 1976 Muriel married her dear friend William 'Vilu' Hochstadt.
Malki (as Muriel was affectionately known) is survived by her children Lynn (Bruce) Cohne, Hal (Paulann) Fessinger and Stuart (Rosemary) Fessinger; grandchildren: Lisa (Siamak) Khadjenoury, Allon (Christine) Cohne; Jason (Jenna) Fessinger, Leah (Craig) Press, Sara Fessinger and soon to be bridegroom David Weitzner; Michael Fessinger and Ryan Fessinger. Great-grandchildren: Setareh, Arian, Sahar and Sayeh Khadjenoury; James and Leigh Cohne and Caleb Press, and her beloved brother-in-law, Hy Rosenfeld.
Malki is also survived by her Hochstadt family Jordan and Sue Hochstadt, Robert and Diane Hochstadt and Barry and Shelley Hochstadt and their children and grandchildren. She is also survived by an adoring cadre of nieces, nephews and their children and grandchildren.
Preceded in death by her two husbands and three sisters: Rita Friedman, Dorothy Lewis and Irene Rosenfeld. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Congregation Kol Ami in Salt Lake City, Utah or a charity of your choice.
A heartfelt appreciation to the staff of The Wellington for their loving care of Mom as well as to Jason McGavin and the staff of Cozy Health and Hospice.
A graveside service will be held Tuesday, November 22nd 2011, 2 pm at B'nai Israel Cemetery, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

I want to just share how lucky I’ve been my whole life.

I’ve had my life through all of my senses enhanced and heightened because of my grandmother.

Sight – While Malky’s vision began to fail her in later life her sense of style, fashion, and décor were impeccable and never left her. Everything about Malke was neat, tasteful, and in its’ correct location. 

Many years ago Sahar taught Malke to roll up the plastic grocery bag to keep them neat and organized…when we cleaned the apt. every plastic bag was rolled and neatly stored.

You would not believe the organization and skill it took to create the orthodox kosher kitchen in a tiny Denver townhouse she kept for Vilu Hochstadt.  Milk Dishes, meat Dishes, parve dishes, Pesach meat and Pesach milk dishes, meat towels, dairy towels – it was nothing short of amazing!  Malky was so organized that she even passed 24 hours short of exactly 17 years to the day of our beloved Vilu. 

Malky had more than a knack for neatness – although Macular Degeneration had left her unable to enjoy reading, looking at pictures, TV and being in the sunlight…she could spot a crumb on the floor from an amazing distance even in her last days.  

Taste – That kitchen in Denver not only was organized and a masterpiece of engineering but it produced some amazing meals.  Shabbat tasted so good in Denver.  Although, a most memorable meal was a Thanksgiving with just the immediate family – 25 or more people -  and Gazpacho was being passed to all the guests –my little brother, feeling worried about his Grandmother who always cooked and hosted to perfection, leaned over to me and whispered, “Do you think I should tell grandma, my soup is cold.”

Smell – Dove soap, eucalyptus and Royal Secret cologne – make me sooo happy.  Malky smelled the best!  It’s a little (maybe a lot odd) but when I was little I used to go to the guest room after Malky would visit just to sit and smell the room filled with the linger of her perfume.  I do the same today with her signature scarves, even the 1973 B’nai B’rith Women’s membership book holds her smell and fills me with connection to my grandma. 

Touch- On one of my last visits, I reached over and touched my grandmother’s legs – I could not believe how smooth and soft her skin felt.  I also take to heart numerous times I would complain about my busy schedule and my grandmother would lean over, put her hand onto mine and tell me, “you’re not twins.”

Sound – I’m sure you all can close your eyes and hear her infectious full hearted laugh. Malky lived that cliché – Live, laugh, love!  Which brings me to her 6^th Sense – her Sense of Humor.  Oy!  The sarcasm and the delight in a joke told by my Uncle Hy are priceless memories I will cherish.   What an honor to lived laughed and loved with Muriel Fessinger. Lisa Cohne Khadjenoury Dec. 2011 The Wellington Memorial Service. 

OUTFUCKINGSTANDING