Edna Arons Charlson Ancestry (7 records)

Edna Charlson lived a long and in many ways enviable lifetime here among us on earth. Married to the late Samuel Charlson, she lived for many years at 1226 Murray Avenue, seven houses up from Wilkins ,and she merited knowing eight great grandchildren. On occasion, she may have exhibited her own version of reality (phrase from her first born son Murray), but above all she combined her high standards and work ethic (as per second son Howard) to become the Guru of Brookline and thereby set the standard in dress and cosmetics! And she was always loving.

Edna was born in Homestead, PA. in 1909 to Harry and Dora Arons. Her late siblings were Dr. Leonard, Mildred, a younger sister named Harriet, all deceased, and a sister who died early named Penina and whose loss introduced death as a topic in her life. One might say that Edna never spoke of death but lived very much in its presence. Her parents lived on Sheridan Avenue and helped bring Rabbi Benjamin Lichter and Cantor Mordecai Heiser to the "new" B'nai Israel Congregation in East Liberty. Edna attended Peabody High School and there is a specific Yearbook recording of her wish to debate Clarence Darrow! She attended Margaret Morrison for Social Work credentials and found employment with the Department of Public Welfare. Decades later her great grandchildren Charlotte and Max would be enrolled at the Carnegie Mellon Children's School!

Edna was introduced to Sammy Charlson by non other than Herman Fineberg; family tradition includes her putting on the same wedding dress for each anniversary to follow. The couple found its way out to the Brookline Boulevard Pharmacy that is so well known to everyone here today. She was an equal partner and major force in everything in the store and the family; she was never conflicted about her version of things. Her standards for integrity, tzedakah, classical music, opera and literature, even Count Basie records, became the marching orders of her family. Many store shifts and even meals were shared by Edna and Sam, a practice they continued after moving to Florida. And she was the one who organized the family reunions on Dad's side in Indiana, PA.

Her two children were the jewels on her crown, at least as quoted by them all these years later.
Her first son was named Murray (certainly not after the Avenue in Squirrel Hill) and her second was Howard, whom many of us know as "Herky." She loved her children and she loved their children. Murray married Judi and into her family came Dori and Joseph. Herky married Joan and they contributed Josh and Noah, whom I knew best through their active involvement in Beth El Congregation of the South Hills. "Bubbie", as Edna came to be known, reaped great nachus from your accomplishments and especially your various graduations; it made her feel as if she had earned an "Honorary Degree." But her easy generosity would not allow her to become dependent in any way. She proudly pushed the wheelchair at Noah's Harvard Graduation, but she never stayed at anyone's home. And she would want you to remember her as an original Dollar Store fan. And don't forget that she never saw a microphone that she didn't love!

It is almost forty years, a biblical generation, since the Charlsons moved to Florida. She remained interested in everything and spoke almost daily to the workers in the store. She knitted blankets and sweaters as gifts for her great grandchildren: Charlotte and Max, Rye and Sam, Benjamin and Elana, and Zev and Hannah. Josh remembers that she showed up after his surgery at age nineteen. Noah relates a great image from his brother's Bar Mitzvah: He was a mere ten years old when she asked, "You call that a sandwich?" and proceeded to slap an inch of cold cuts and mustard ("Jews don't use mayonnaise") to make a real sandwich for the occasion. Tough love was her mantra at every juncture. And remember how she had rushed into action at the accident in Virginia?

The image of Bubbe and a young granddaughter sucking on the same piece of spaghetti at a "Rascal House" meal is priceless. Just as Edna herself always was, and always will be. In this week's Torah portion VaYera, Sarah passes from the scene and steps into Jewish consciousness as the Matriarch. From Sara Imenu to Bubbe Edna, so many of the same values have survived and now been submitted to posterity.