Phyllis Bloom Bruchis Finger, housewife and mother

PHYLLIS BLOOM BRUCHIS FINGER, a housewife and mother who had a penchant for poetry, died in New Orleans on May 31. She was 90. Finger had been residing at the Willow Wood Living Center at Woldenberg Village on the West Bank for several years.

Finger kept several notebooks of unpublished and published poetry on a number of subjects, many of which she shared with family and friends. When a bookstore was holding an event where the public could read their own works a few years back, Finger appeared with her book of poetry to proudly read her own words.

She was born in Chicago and lived in Miami for a while because it was thought the warm weather there would be beneficial for her brother Marvin, who suffered with childhood diabetes. She moved to New Orleans, but also spent time living in Illinois and Texas. She was married twice to her husband, the late Edwin Bruchis, once in the late 1940s and then again in 1961. She later married David Finger, also of blessed memory.

In recent years Finger was a volunteer at East Jeffereson Hospital and edited the newsletter for the Woldenberg Village.

She is survived by daughter Diane Bruchis Cotlar (Sidney) and son Martin Joel Bruchis. Another son, Gary Bruchis, predeceased her. She is also survived by six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A graveside service was conducted, Sunday, June 2 at 10:00 a.m. by Rabbi Uri Topolosky at Hebrew Rest Cemetery # 3, 2100 Pelopidas at Frenchmen Street .

Memorials are suggested to Congregation Beth Israel, 4004 West Esplanade Avenue, South, Metairie, LA 70002, Willow Wood Living Center at Woldenberg Village, 3701 Behrman Place, New Orleans, LA 70114 or the charity of your choice.

A shiva minyan was held at the Cotlar residence on Transcontinental Drive in Metairie  that afternoon at 3:30 p.m.