Holocaust survivor Mirel Rottersman laid to rest

MIREL ROTTERSMAN, a Holocaust survivor who moved to New Orleans in 1951 before relocating to Michigan nine years ago, died May 25 in Bloomfield, MI. She was 93.

Rottersman, who was born in Poland, was incarcerated at the Auschwitz concentration camp and following her liberation was sent via the World Jewish Congress to Sweden, from where she moved to England in 1948. It was there that she met her future husband, Nathan Rottersman, at night class in London. Previously released from a Stalinist labor camp, Mr. Rottersman had fought with the Allies in the Polish Brigade of the British Army and was living in London at that time. The two were married in 1949.

They began to raise their family in England, but decided to move to the United States in 1951, bringing with them two daughters, a two-year-old toddler and a six-month-old infant.

Once relocated to New Orleans, the Rottersmans became members of the New Americans Social Club, which encouraged social activities and events among newly-arrived Holocaust survivors. She enjoyed playing cards with other club members, especially poker.

Rottersman was known for her kindness and grace and she excelled in helping her husband with his plumbing business as well as overseeing the many real estate properties they purchased, rehabbed and kept.

She was a member of Hadassah and her family maintained membership at Congregation Chevra Thilim for many years. Rottersman continued as a member of Shir Chadash following the merger with Tikvat Shalom.

Following the death of her husband in 1996 after 46 years of marriage, Rottersman continued to live in the Metairie area, displaced only for a short time by the flooding and uncertainty associated with Hurricane Katrina before her return. However, following a very serious shoulder injury, she moved to West Bloomfield to be near her oldest daughter Linda in the winter of 2006 for ongoing care.

Rottersman is survived by her three daughters Linda (Paul) Blumberg of Ann Arbor, MI; Anna Rottersman (Ted Lehmann) of Queens, New York and Tina (Jay) Brackmann; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Graveside services were held on Thursday, May 28, at Chevra Thilim Cemetery, 5000 Iberville Street, at 11:00 a.m. Rabbi Gabriel Greenberg of Congregation Beth Israel conducted the service.

Memorial donations are suggested to the charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements were made by the Ira Kaufman Chapel in Southfield, MI and handled locally by Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp Funeral Home.