Citation Details: https://obits.syracuse.com/obituaries/syracuse/obituary.aspx?n=helene-levi-jacobs&pid=188636649&fhid=15391 Text: Helene Levi Jacobs, 95, passed away at her home in Manlius on April 3, 2018. Her life epitomized America's opportunities after World War II for immigrants and their families. Leni, as she was affectionately called, was born in Saarwellinghem, Saargebiet to Siegfried and Paula Levi on June 21, 1922. Her life changed dramatically in 1935 when her father saw the looming dangers of Nazis antisemitism. Abandoning their home and loved ones, the family fled to Oran, Algeria as a temporary refuge. Oran, however, was never secure because of the ongoing threat of repatriation to Nazis controlled Europe. The Levi family centered their life around Oran's main Conservative Jewish Temple. It was here that Leni's father befriended several American Jewish soldiers who regularly attended Shabbat services. One Friday, he invited them home for a family meal, where Leni first met Melvin Jacobs. They were married on July 5, 1944. When Melvin's unit was deployed to Italy. Leni, speaking little English, left her family to travel alone to America to her husband's family, whom she had yet to meet. When the war ended, the young couple began their life together in Utica, New York and raised 2 sons. In 1963, Leni and Melvin created a restaurant that blended fast food with the warm hospitality and great homecooked meals that Leni was known for. Their success grew to 7 locations in various cities. When she retired as a businesswoman in 1990, Leni and Melvin became snow birds in West Boca Raton, Florida. Here again she made a home that welcomed family and friends, old and new. In 1999, Leni and her husband moved to Manlius as their summer residence. Shortly thereafter, Melvin passed away and she was forced again to reframe her life. Eventually she settled permanently in Manlius where life centered around her family, Temple Concord, and a healthy dose of shopping. Leni is survived by her son, Gary, Susan Pasco and Caitlin Teres, son, David, Douglas Goldschmidt; niece, Ingrid Cominsky and family, and nephew Sidney Cominsky and family. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, her sister, Ruth to whom she was devoted, and nephew, Jeffrey Cominsky. Leni will be remembered as a beautiful woman with European charm who loved life and others deeply, especially her family. She continued the legacy of her parents' caring generosity throughout her life. Her sense of style filled all that she did, including gardening. Though petite, she possessed inexhaustible energy, quiet courage, and fierce independence, even as she moved through the last portion of life. The family is deeply grateful to Liberty Harty, Cindy Dixon, Michelle Malavenda and Hospice's Cheryl French and Ashley Spytko whose loving care over many months enabled Leni to fulfill her wish to remain in her treasured home. Services to celebrate her life will be held at noon, on Thursday, April 5 at Temple Concord, 910 Madison Street, Syracuse. Friends may visit with the family immediately prior to the service on Thursday from 11AM till noon at Temple Concord. Private burial will be in the family plot at House of Israel Cemetery, Whitesboro, New York In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any contributions would be made to the Jacobs/Levi Fund at Temple Concord which supports the Temple's community food pantry program. In doing so, the Fund honors the caring open-hearted sharing of meals that was a cherished value of Leni, her husband and parents.
Text: Event Type: Death Event Date: 16 Sep 1999 Event Place: New York, United States Event Place (Original): New York Postal Code: 13104 Name: Melvin L Jacobs Age: 83 Birth Date: 18 Jul 1916
Citation Details: https://obits.syracuse.com/obituaries/syracuse/obituary.aspx?n=helene-levi-jacobs&pid=188636649&fhid=15391 Text: Helene Levi Jacobs, 95, passed away at her home in Manlius on April 3, 2018. Her life epitomized America's opportunities after World War II for immigrants and their families. Leni, as she was affectionately called, was born in Saarwellinghem, Saargebiet to Siegfried and Paula Levi on June 21, 1922. Her life changed dramatically in 1935 when her father saw the looming dangers of Nazis antisemitism. Abandoning their home and loved ones, the family fled to Oran, Algeria as a temporary refuge. Oran, however, was never secure because of the ongoing threat of repatriation to Nazis controlled Europe. The Levi family centered their life around Oran's main Conservative Jewish Temple. It was here that Leni's father befriended several American Jewish soldiers who regularly attended Shabbat services. One Friday, he invited them home for a family meal, where Leni first met Melvin Jacobs. They were married on July 5, 1944. When Melvin's unit was deployed to Italy. Leni, speaking little English, left her family to travel alone to America to her husband's family, whom she had yet to meet. When the war ended, the young couple began their life together in Utica, New York and raised 2 sons. In 1963, Leni and Melvin created a restaurant that blended fast food with the warm hospitality and great homecooked meals that Leni was known for. Their success grew to 7 locations in various cities. When she retired as a businesswoman in 1990, Leni and Melvin became snow birds in West Boca Raton, Florida. Here again she made a home that welcomed family and friends, old and new. In 1999, Leni and her husband moved to Manlius as their summer residence. Shortly thereafter, Melvin passed away and she was forced again to reframe her life. Eventually she settled permanently in Manlius where life centered around her family, Temple Concord, and a healthy dose of shopping. Leni is survived by her son, Gary, Susan Pasco and Caitlin Teres, son, David, Douglas Goldschmidt; niece, Ingrid Cominsky and family, and nephew Sidney Cominsky and family. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, her sister, Ruth to whom she was devoted, and nephew, Jeffrey Cominsky. Leni will be remembered as a beautiful woman with European charm who loved life and others deeply, especially her family. She continued the legacy of her parents' caring generosity throughout her life. Her sense of style filled all that she did, including gardening. Though petite, she possessed inexhaustible energy, quiet courage, and fierce independence, even as she moved through the last portion of life. The family is deeply grateful to Liberty Harty, Cindy Dixon, Michelle Malavenda and Hospice's Cheryl French and Ashley Spytko whose loving care over many months enabled Leni to fulfill her wish to remain in her treasured home. Services to celebrate her life will be held at noon, on Thursday, April 5 at Temple Concord, 910 Madison Street, Syracuse. Friends may visit with the family immediately prior to the service on Thursday from 11AM till noon at Temple Concord. Private burial will be in the family plot at House of Israel Cemetery, Whitesboro, New York In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any contributions would be made to the Jacobs/Levi Fund at Temple Concord which supports the Temple's community food pantry program. In doing so, the Fund honors the caring open-hearted sharing of meals that was a cherished value of Leni, her husband and parents.
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