Ernestine Loeb Hammel Urken passed away in the early morning hours of January 13th.
She was born on Oct 24, 1925 in Reading. Ernie was the daughter of Rena Ehrlich Loeb Goodman and Milton S. Loeb.
Ernie was a daughter, a sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, a great friend and human being.
She was the loving wife of two wonderful husbands, Simon E. Hammel and Karl Urken, both of whom pre-deceased her. She raised her family in Pottsville and after marrying Karl in 1978, she moved to Ewing Township, New Jersey. As the mother of four sons, she was busy with the activities of raising them, such as education, sports, scouting, and providing for a traditional Jewish family life.
She was active in many areas of civic and religious life. Ernie referred to herself as a Professional Volunteer. She was active with organizations related to her religion in both Pottsville and New Jersey. She was President of the Sisterhood of Oheb Zedeck Synagogue and National Vice President of the Synagogue’s Women’s League. She was on the board of her New Jersey Synagogue, Adath Israel, where she had various leadership roles.
Ernie was the first President of the Pottsville Religious Council and was also President of the Pottsville Rotary Club auxiliary, the Torray Club.
After moving to New Jersey, she continued her civic activities. This included American Red Cross, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Mercer County Child Development Center, reading to children at Head Start and others…
Ernie was so active in these and other organizations that she was the recipient of the Jefferson Award, a national award for outstanding community and public service, sponsored by The Times of Trenton. She served as a role model and passed her trait of being civic minded and helping to repair the world along to her family.
Surviving from both families are her 3 sons Victor (Dena), Robert (Bonnie), Steven (Renee), and daughter-in-law Martha. Son Lee predeceased Ernestine. Also surviving, 2 stepdaughters Suzi (Richard) Troll, Patty (Adolf) Herst, a stepson Paul Urken, 16 grandchildren, and 24 great grandchildren!
A virtual memorial service was held on Sunday, January 17.
Her burial is at the Oheb Zedeck Synagogue Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her memory to Adath Israel, 1958 Lawrenceville Rd., Lawrenceville NJ 08648, or a charity of the donor’s choice.
Lord-Bixler Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be expressed at lordbixler.com.
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