Obituary: Ernestine Cohn Chechik

PETALUMA, CALIF. - Ernestine Cohn Chechik, age 99, of Madison, St. Petersburg Beach, Fla., Sarasota, Fla. and Petaluma, Calif., died in Petaluma on Tuesday, July 10, 2007. She was born July 19, 1907, in Madison, the daughter of Max and Anna Cohn. She graduated from Madison Central High School and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she majored in journalism. Her late husband, Sam, owned and operated the Prescription Pharmacy in Madison. She and Sam were charter members of Beth El Temple and helped bring Rabbi Manfred Swarsensky to Madison, as Beth El's first religious leader. Ernestine was an excellent student, an avid reader and a talented pianist. She was active with the Beth El Sisterhood and served as its president from 1941 to 1942 and as director of the Beth El choir during the 1950s. She is survived by a sister, Bernice of Gainesville, Fla.; two sons, Alan of Bayfield and Michael Sunday of Petaluma, Calif.; seven grandchildren; a step-granddaughter and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sam; a brother, Herbert (Frieda) Cohn of Madison and a daughter, Gail (Wenocur) of Columbia, Md. Ernestine was a remarkable woman, described by her son, Michael, as "cheerful, buoyant, positive, deeply communicative...the very foundation of our whole family." She will be remembered as a loyal and supportive wife, a warm, wise and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and a trusted friend. A private memorial service will be held in Madison. Please contact Alan at (715) 779-3338 for details.

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on September 16, 2007