Ellen had a phenomenal memory, and through the stories she shared with us, we learned about our history.
Chella married Leizer (Leon) Oberleder from Lublin.
Chella and Leizer were resilient. At the start of World War II, they left Lublin and made their way to Kyrgyzstan. When the war ended, they welcomed their first daughter, Esther. In the summer of 1946, they returned to Poland, and upon realizing the extent of the devastation, they left for a displaced persons camp in Germany. A few months later, they moved to Paris, France, where they had two more children, Louis and Monique. In 1960, Chella and Leizer decided to fulfill their dream of immigrating to the United States. They shortened their family name to Ober and first settled in Pittsburgh before later relocating to Los Angeles.
Ellen was a seamstress her whole life. She ran the house and did side work. She made most, if not all, her children’s clothes by hand. She would go window shopping in France, and then in Beverly Hills and would come home and copy (and perfect) the clothing she saw for her and her children. She loved a good party dress (she would make her own). Her creativity did not stop at clothes. Weekly Sunday night family dinners were an event—Enough food for an army. Her love language was food (and unfiltered honesty). The recipes and cooking would take three days, and there would be enough for everyone to take home food for days!
Ellen was witty, funny, smart, amazing, blunt, honest, creative, a survivor, a refugee, an immigrant, and a proud American, and she loved the beach! She is survived by her three children, two grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren, all of whom she loved, “up to the sky and more!”
Through her grit and willpower she had many successes. Her mission was for her children and future generations to thrive, and that has come true, from her guiding hand and modeling. She was tough but loving, kind but real, soft but firm when she needed to be.
They do not make anyone like her anymore. She lived the American Dream!
As a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, she inspired us. We love Ellen to the sky and more. She lives on through us all.
