MILDRED FISHMAN

FISHMAN
MILDRED (nee Coopersmith), deeply adored mother, grand-mother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend, died of congestive heart failure on Saturday July 2, 2011 at the age of 92. Her life began in an Orthodox Jewish home and ended at St. Joseph Villa, a long-term care facility in Flourtown, Pennsylvania. Millie, as she was known, found a way to bond with everyone. At St. Joseph Villa she liked to tell the Sisters, "I was born on Christmas Day, my parents were Mary and Joseph and I'm Jewish."
In high school, Millie was known for her layer cakes. She was written up in the Wynnefield Times for the number of suitors she had. But only one, a handsome, trumpet-playing schoolmate at Overbrook High named Matt Fishman, captured her heart. They tied the knot in 1940 and their marriage lasted until Matt died in 2006. In Millie's own words, "He often told me he loved me. And he told me I was pretty. We had very happy years."
Millie's life was filled with family, love, generosity, friends and laughter. While raising a family, she also found time to help others. She sent her children to stand by the door outside Horn & Hardart with cans to collect money for cerebral palsy research and the Mildred Malschick Fuhrman Charities.
Over the years Millie was also active in Brandeis and raised thousands of dollars for Ort. When her cousin's health was failing, she wrote letters to friends and raised money to help her.
Art was her passion. She led art tours in Philadelphia and New York. In addition Millie and Matt had a Chinese Folk Art business in which they exhibited, sold and lectured on Chinese peasant paintings.
In recent years, Millie lived at the Veranda Club in Boca Raton, Florida, where she enjoyed everything from reading fine literature to playing bingo. Her favorite activity was playing cards with her dear, best friend Bea Zackon. Mostly those card games were about their precious conversations and hearty laughter.
In recent months, as her health failed, her loving family was a constant presence. Everything about her generous, fun and caring spirit will be dearly missed by her children Ellen Davis of Delray, Florida, Susan Fishman Orlins of Washington, D.C. and Mark Fishman of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania as well as 7 grandchildren Michael Davis, Shelly Steiner, Wendy Flannery, Katie Lange, Eliza Orlins, Sabrina Orlins and Emily Orlins and 5 great grand-children Taylor Steiner, Jake Steiner, Dari Steiner, Kevin Flannery and Lori Flannery. Millie treasured her devoted children-in-law, Sam Davis and Janet Fishman as her own.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations in Millie's memory to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Delaware Valley Chapter, 2004 Sproul Road, Sutie 208, Broomall, PA 19008 or St. Joseph Villa, 110 W. Wissahickon Ave., Flourtown, PA 19031. Services Private.
www.goldsteinsfuneral.com