Silvia Silber's Obituary
Silvia Silber, 97 of Cutler Bay, Florida formerly of New York passed away July 17, 2022. Silvia was the daughter and first born to Julius and Fanny Biederman, immigrants who arrived at Ellis Island shortly after World War I. They left their old life in Bistrita, Romania and like most European immigrants, came here with hope of finding opportunity and a better life for themselves and their children. They settled in New York City and Silvia was born on November 17, 1924, a few years before the Great Depression. Her younger, and much beloved brother Sidney, was born a few years later. Silvia grew up during a difficult time and although her father was able to work during the Depression, the family had little money and Silvia had to learn to make do with what she had. She also recognized the importance of education and graduated from high school. She quickly found a job working for a well-known ophthalmologist in New York and became his secretary and surgical assistant. This exposure to the medical field had a great impact on the direction of her life. Shortly after World War II, Silvia met the love of her life, Irving Silber who she married on April 19, 1947. Sixteen months later Silvia gave birth to her son Fred and four years later to her other son Martin. In 1955 they moved from New York to Miami where Irving started a small business. Silvia and Irving loved to travel. They made many trips to many places, but their most meaningful and emotional destination was Israel. Silvia was able to meet some of her immediate relatives who miraculously survived the Holocaust. She remained in close contact with them for years. After moving to Miami, Silvia began working at a Cancer Research Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Several years later she found a job closer to home and worked as the office manager for a general practitioner, Dr. Marvin Silverberg. Later she found a position as the office manager for a plastic surgeon, Dr. Alan Rapaport. She remained close friends with both of these doctors long after she retired. During this same period of she became an adult education teacher at Southwest Senior High School. She taught medical secretarial and medical terminology courses. During her years at Southwest, she mentored many students, and became close friends with a select few who have remained close with her throughout her life. After retiring from full time employment, Silvia volunteered at the neonatal nursery at a local hospital where she cuddled and comforted the babies, rocking them for hours. This comforted her as much as the babies she was nurturing. Silvia and Irv had a wonderful marriage that lasted 64 years until the death of her beloved husband on May 12, 2011, eleven days after the birth of his second great-grandchild, Pieter Goetzelman. During her final days, Silvia had the comfort of having her sons and daughters-in law with her. Silvia never referred to her sons’ wives as daughters-in-law. She often said “I don’t have a daughter-in-law, I have daughters.” Silvia is survived by Fred and his wife Deborah as well as Martin and his wife Ruby. She is also survived by her six grand children Rachel Goetzelman, Joshua Silber, Rebecca Newgren-Silber, Jeremy Silber, Stephen Silber and Jason Silber. She was also blessed to know her two Great grandchildren, Lily Zelman and Pieter Goetzelman. Graveside Service 10:00 am, Thursday, July 21, 2022 at Lakeside Memorial Park, Doral, Florida. Arrangements by Levitt Weinstein Blasberg Rubin Zilbert (305) 932-2700.
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