Etta (Pasternack) Beck

Etta (Pasternack) Beck, 90, died at her residence, The McAuley, Steele Rd, West Hartford, on Wednesday, (November 30, 2005). Born in Hartford, daughter of the late Morris and Clara (Brandvein) Pasternack, she was the widow of the late Louis A. Beck. After the death of her husband, she moved to the McAuley, where she was an active volunteer until her death, having received a Service Award on Nov. 17 from the Residents’ Association Board of Directors. Mrs. Beck is survived by her loving daughter, Marjorie, her husband William Graf; her grandson, Ryan all of Vermont and her sister, Rhea Gaer, of Florida. At the death of her mother, when Etta was six years old, she, her sister and father joined the family of her Aunt and Uncle and their children and they were raised as sisters and brothers. Her beloved Aunt Rose was a devoted mother to her for 60 years. She also leaves behind her “brothers” Robert Pasternack of Florida and Saul Pasternack and his wife, Joanne of Bloomfield as well as many near and dear relatives across the country. She was predeceased by her “sister” Edith (Cookie Pasternack) Libbin of Florida. Mrs. Beck worked together with her husband and his late brother, Morris Beck, in their own business, Beck Bros Banana Co from its establishment in 1949 until their retirement in 1988. While still a student at Weaver High, class of 1934, Mrs. Beck became active in philanthropic and social work. She served at the Mitchell House in South Hartford and worked with groups of underprivileged girls with sewing, arts and crafts sessions, as well as summer outings. She continued in later years serving as an Officer and member of the Board of many organizations including Jewish Children’s Service Organization JCSO and Jewish Consumptive Relief Society JCRS that became the American Medical Center of Denver when Consumption was no longer a contagious disease. She was a Life Member of the Board of the Emanuel Synagogue, a past president of the PTO, a member of the Sisterhood and Minyonaires. She was loved by all and will be deeply missed. Memorial donations may be made to the Louis & Etta Beck Endowment Fund of the Emanuel Synagogue, 160 Mohegan Dr., W. Hartford, CT 06117 or the Louis A. Beck Scholarship Fund at the Greater Hartford Jewish Community Center, 333 Bloomfield Ave., W. Hartford, CT 06117. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. TODAY, at Weinstein Mortuary, Farmington Ave., W. Hartford, with interment at the Emanuel Cemetery, Wethersfield. The family will receive visitors at the home of Saul and Joanne Pasternack, 20 Burnwood Dr. Bloomfield, Friday following burial until 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon thru Sunday evening. For online messages of condolence please visit www.weinsteinmortuary.com.