GWEN KELMAN

March 7, 1922 - February 1, 2018

SERVICES: 10:00 AM SUNDAY 2/4/2018 at HEBREW MEMORIAL CHAPEL. A LINK WILL BE PROVIDED FOR A WEBCAST OF THE FUNERAL SERVICE. Age 95, of Ann Arbor, died February 1, 2018. A founding member of Young Israel of Oak Park, Mrs. Kelman was also active with Pioneer Women. Gwen grew up in Detroit, the youngest of eight, with a span of twenty-three years between Gwen and her eldest brother, Bill. When she was eleven, she walked to the Detroit Institute of Art and watched Diego Rivera paint the Detroit Industry Murals on the museum's walls. "He was a large man, wearing a big white coat", she said. Years later she walked across the street to Wayne State and completed an Art degree. "She would put on classical music and draw us early in the morning before rushing off to school" a niece remarked. She could draw like crazy. At school, she met her husband, Paul, whose family was as tall as hers was short. After a few years as an art instructor, Gwen and Paul married and had five rambunctious, medium-sized kids. They moved to a house, "like a palace", said Gwen, "with air conditioning", said Paul, in Oak Park in 1956. Then, they taught all their children about honesty and integrity and made sure they did their homework and went to good schools. She loved animals. There were turtles, fish, an alligator, parakeets, and dogs in the house at various times. Her favorite TV show was Jeopardy. Gwen's bedtime story each night was a New York Times crossword puzzle. She was a whiz with these puzzles and with the many games of Scrabble she played with her family. When her youngest was nine, and Gwen was 50, she decided to learn Computer Science. She was at the top of her class in programming Cobol, a business language. This training seeped into her everyday life. One day, her new stove did not respond. She unplugged it and plugged it back in and grinned when it started to work. Gwen and Paul traveled to Israel over 17 times, visiting relatives on both sides of the family. The neighbors often sought her advice. Gwen was wise in many areas and adverse to gossip. She was the stand-in grandma for a large family, two-doors down, whose real grandma was in Australia. She adored those kids. They often invited her over for Shabbat lunch. She would send a bowl of fruit to them in advance and they prepared a fruit salad for her. She ate no sugar, salt, or fat. When Paul became ill with Parkinson's Disease, Gwen became his care taker for over 20 years. Sometimes when he was really ill, she came up with solutions that his physicians had not thought of. Later, when Paul was gone and the children had grown up, Gwen lived by herself and did her own cleaning and cooking. She rarely sat down. When two dogs needed a yard - a Bichon Frise and a Standard Poodle, Gwen was delighted to take them in. "Aren't you afraid that they will bite you?" one of our relatives asked. "No, I am the alpha dog", Gwen declared with glee. Gwen lived in this fashion and was an active member of her community until she was 89, when she suffered a stroke and moved to Ann Arbor. Gwen was married to the late Paul for 52 years. She is survived by her daughters Janet Kelman (David Rein), Deborah Kelman(Rabbi Marvin Goodman) , Miriam Kelman, and her sons Dr. Charles Kelman(Simone) , and Dr. David Kelman (Dr. Leah Robin). grandchildren Julianne Kelman, Katie Perryman Mark) , Jacob Kelman, Naomi Goodman, and Rena Mizrahi (Jonathan) . greatgrandson, Ayden Mizrahi. sisters-in-law Nettie Stein, Miriam Kelman, and Bea Kelman; many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Gwen was the youngest daughter of Samuel and Ida Adelson. OFFICIATING: Rabbi M. Cohen Rabbi E. Yelen INTERMENT: Beth Tefilo Cemetery SHIVA: The family will observe Shiva on Sunday, following the interment at YOUNG ISRAEL OF OAK PARK 15140 W 10 Mile Rd, Oak Park, MI 48237 THE FAMILY WILL OBSERVE THE REST OF SHIVA PRIVATELY RELIGIOUS SERVICES: 5:40 pm Sunday evening only at Young Israel of Oak Park CONTRIBUTIONS: If you would like to further honor the memory of GWEN KELMAN you may do so by making a contribution to: PAUL KELMAN ETHICS FUND at WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY Mike Ilitch BUSINESS SCHOOL 5475 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 48202 (313) 577-2275 www.giving.wayne.edu/donate or HOSPICE COMPASSUS 30665 Northwestern Hwy Ste 150, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 (248) 355-9900 or YOUNG ISRAEL OF OAK PARK 15140 W 10 Mile Rd, Oak Park, MI 48237 www.yiop.org