Mollye Penner, former drug manufacturer
MOLLYE BRONIK PENNER, the former president of Penner and Welch Drug Manufacturing and a lifelong resident of New Orleans passed away on September 19 from natural causes at Woldenberg Village. She was 86.
Penner was an active volunteer in numerous city philanthropic endeavors including the Greater New Orleans Chapter of Hadassah, B’nai Brith Girls (official advisor) and the city’s Chevra Kadisha Committee. She was a fourth generation member of Congregation Beth Israel, where she served in various leadership roles. She was elected as the Sisterhood President and also served as a congregation board member.
Following the death of her husband, Morton “Marty” Penner four decades ago, she assumed his position in the wholesale pharmaceutical company, which manufactured vitamins and other bulk drugs under the banners of PenWel and Penner and Welch. She continued running the business for several years along with her brother Leonard Bronik and her sister-in-law Lidia Bronik. Penner was named New Orleans Business Woman of the Year from and worked at the company office on Tchoupitoulas Street until her retirement several years ago. An enthusiastic fan of Carnival, Penner was a rider in the Mardi Gras krewes of Anubis, Tucks and Iris and rose to be a float lieutenant in the Krewe of Venus.
She is survived by Ronnie Sue Roth (late Stuart) of New City, New York, Cheryl Koretzky (David) of Kingwood, Texas, Judy Weber (William) of Destrehan, Louisiana and her brother Leonard Bronik (Lidia) a resident of Austin, Texas where is relocated after Katrina. She is also survived by four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Donations can be made to the Mollye Penner Memorial Fund of Woldenberg Village, 3701 Berman Place, Algiers, LA 70114; Congregation Beth Israel, 4000 West Esplanade Avenue W, Metairie, LA 70002 or the charity of your choice.