Virginia Beach—Pearl Cohen Brenner passed away on Dec. 24, 2012.
Born June 5, 1921 in Norfolk, the daughter of Joseph and Sarah Cohen, she graduated from Maury High School and at age 19 married Freddie Brenner of Norfolk.
The couple, who were together for 57 years until Freddie’s death in 1998, had three children, sons Joey and Michael, both of blessed memory, and daughter Jacie. Pearl is survived by Jacie, her husband Steve Newberg, granddaughter Stacie and her husband Mike Remington; daughterin- law Marilyn Brenner, granddaughter Jodi and grandson Howard, his wife Michelle and their daughter Lindsay; Pearl’s granddaughter Beth, daughter of Michael and Michele, also of blessed memory; as well as her sister Miriam Weisberg and brother Harry Cohen.
Known to her customers as “Mizz Pearl,” she worked in sales and the credit department for 30 years for Home Furniture, Furniture World and Quality Furniture. Pearl then spent 12 years at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, first at the front desk answering phones and greeting the public and later on the sixth floor, where she comforted loved ones whose families were undergoing treatment in the neurological -trauma center. In 2002 the Sentara Health System named her its Employee of the Year.
Pearl was always “fun to be around,” according to family and friends who remember her as a hard working, caring and devoted mother and wife who loved to tell jokes, particularly in Yiddish dialect. An eager babysitter, Pearl treated all her nephews and nieces as if they were her own children. She was the life of any party, a good dancer, mahjong player, water skier and a flashy dresser, who shared mini-skirts with her daughter in the 1960s. She and Freddie, who were founding members of Temple Israel, were also loyal Norfolk Tides fans, duckpin bowlers and beach goers.
Her loving and dedicated daughter Jacie is grateful for the incredible care provided by the staff at the Berger Goldrich Home at Beth Sholom Village, where her mother spent the last five years of her life.
Funeral services and burial took place at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Donations can be made to either Beth Sholom Village or Temple Israel.