Yetta Cohen Sifen

VIRGINIA BEACH – Yetta Cohen Sifen passed away peacefully in her home at the age of 93, surrounded by her loving family, on April 23.

She was born on November 15, 1930, in Portsmouth, Va. In 1942, she welcomed her brother Stanley (married to Judy) into this world. In addition to helping her mother raise her brother, Yetta was building a network of life-long friends and family.

Yetta participated in many programs and clubs at Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. Yetta’s excellence in high school led her to attending the College of William and Mary. On June 5, 1949, she married Melvin Sifen, and together they had five sons, Larry (Pam), David, Michael (Becky), Marc (Wendy) and Barry (Elizabeth).

Yetta and Mel worked together in their retail rental business in Hampton Roads while raising their sons. Mel and Yetta were blessed with 10 grandchildren (Joey, Lena, Philip, Joe, Rachael, Mamie, Jeremiah, Ben, Jeff, and Harold) and five great-grandchildren (Leo, Cohen, Alice, Olivia, and Isla).

After her retirement, Yetta traveled with her husband, spent many hours reading, participated in adult learning education, and kept in touch on a daily basis with friends and family. Yetta will always be remembered for the love she showed her family and friends and support she provided her husband.

Yetta will be deeply missed by her brother, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews and extended family and friends. She was predeceased by her husband and her parents, Lena and Joe Cohen.

A graveside service was held at Gomley Chesed Cemetery. Memorial donations in honor of Yetta Sifen may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois 60601, the Chabad of Tidewater, 1920 Colley Ave. Norfolk, VA 23517, or to Medi Home Health and Hospice, 530 Independence Parkway, Chesapeake, VA 23320.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.hdoliver.com.