Orange County Jewish Life, along with the entire Jewish community and many other friends, mourns the loss of Adeline Cohen on May 29. Born on September 27, 1919, this Eishet Chayil (Woman of Valor) is survived by three daughters, two sons-in-law, six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and many friends.
According to Jewish Federation & Family Services, “Our community lost a great leader and a great lady. We celebrate the life of Adeline Cohen, z”l, who passed away at age 92. She inspired us by her joie de vivre, her laughter and smiles; by her keen insights and wise counsel; by her endless compassion for people in need; and by her passionate dedication to our Jewish community. ‘There is no particular age at which you say I’ve done it, said Adeline in 2006. ‘You just keep going because there is always more that needs to be done.’ What a role model Adeline was. She will always be in our hearts.”
“Adeline continued to be involved in life and loved by many to the end,” said Michele Walot. “If you knew her, your life was forever changed for the good. I carry your heart in my heart, dear one!”
“Adeline had such a positive attitude about the world even in some of her final waking moments,” said Alyce Brodoff. “No matter what the adversities, Adeline not only rose above them; she soared. Every time.”
In her eulogy at the funeral June 1, Cantor Marcia Tilchin of Congregation B’nai Israel said, “To know Adeline, was to be a member of her fan club. The age range of friends who she held dear ran from teenagers to centenarians, and she herself was ageless. News of her passing has rocked the Orange County Jewish community. We all know that each day is a gift and that once in our nineties, all the more so. Adeline was an anchor not only for her family and friends, but also for the leaders in our community. A month to the day before her passing she was one of the honorees at the JCC celebration gala and I am told that her words, delivered impromptu, were as poignant and compelling as ever.”
According to Tilchin, “Adeline was a doer, not a talker. One of her favorite sayings was – ‘Be good for nothing!’ – She would do acts of kindness for others without expecting anything in return, and that included verbal praise. She instilled in her family the idea that our actions speak for us and one should never boast about their accomplishments. Let other people tell you how wonderful you are or your children are – don’t advertise that yourself. She was never envious of what others had. Another favorite saying was ‘If I had wheels, I’d be a trolley car.’ For Adeline, one’s wealth could not be truly measured by what they gave, but rather by what they did and the relationships they fostered. She was a magnet for people and people wanted to know what she had to say. And she was free with her sage advice.”
In describing Adeline as an Eishet Chayil (Woman of Valor), Tilchin said, “She was a superwoman who was brilliant, financially savvy, incredibly organized, a master of her household, able to meet the many needs of her husband and children, generous, community minded, and compassionate towards the underserved. This is a woman who rose early, went to bed late, put everyone else’s needs before her own and had no time for gossip or idle chatter. This larger-than-life personality was Adeline Cohen – Haya bat Heschel v’Tova.”