Bertha R. Skole,
served Jewish causes
Mrs. Bertha R. Skole, 81, of 531 Crane Ave., died yesterday at the Connecticut Hospice in Branford, Conn. Following a long illness.
She was born in Gomel, Russia on Aug. 12 1905, the daughter of Louis and Naomi Lefkowitz Evzerow. She came to the United States at the age of 8, first to New Lebanon, N.Y., then to Pittsfield. She attended local schools and graduated from the former Pittsfield Commercial High School.
Mrs. Skole, a member of Congregation Knesset Israel and its Sisterhood, was past president of both Hadassah and the former Jewish Ladies' Aid Society. In the late 1940s, she was chairman of the New American Committee, which helped settle refugees in Pittsfield. In 1963, she received the Man of the Year award from the Jewish Community Council for 25 years' service to the Jewish community.
She also was a former member of the Women's Club and the American Civil Liberties Union.
Her husband, John B. Skole, died March 13, 1975. They were married June 29, 1924.
She leaves two sons, Robert Skole of Stockholm, Sweden, and Norman Skole of Indianapolis, Ind; three sisters, Mrs Ida Drazen of Cheshire, Conn., Mrs. Doris Hall of Gulfport, Fla., and Mrs. Flora Pappert of Miami, Fla.; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be held tomorrow at 2:30 at the Knesset Israel Synagogue with Rabbi Arthur B. Ruknick, spiritual leader of the congregation offiating. Burial will be in the Knesset Israel Cemetery.
A memorial period will be observed at the family residence, 531 Crane Ave., following the services.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to either the Knesset Israel or the charity of one's choice.
The Devanny-Condron Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Transcribed from Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, dated 23 June 1987