Fluster, Henrietta Martha [nee Levy]

December 27, 1914, Harlem, NY - March 30, 2014 , Pullman, WA

How do you fit a life into a few, so very few lines? One whose cup of life was drained dry. Every sip well-savoured.

A beloved daughter and sister; an adored wife and cherished aunt; a loving mother, doting grandmother, delighted great-grandmother; a treasured friend has passed away after a short illness.

How do you measure a life? As the song says...

"Measure in love

Seasons of love
In daylights, in sunsets
In midnights, in cups of coffee
In inches, in miles, in laughter..."

Henrietta was the youngest of three children and only daughter of Augusta and Isaac Levy. This lively and gifted woman grew up surrounded by love. Enjoying music and dance, she often partnered her father in soft-shoe competitions. Though Henrie was accepted at college upon graduation from high school at 16, she could not attend due to the Depression and went to secretarial school instead. Her experience as the secretary for a furniture store in New York City came in good use many years later when she helped support the family by typing while our father studied for his degrees in chemistry and special education.

Set up by her best friend, Henrie met Jerome [Jerry] shortly after his return from the war and they married a few months later on Jan. 4, 1948. That summer, Jerry and Henrie honeymooned on their drive out to Los Angeles. Settling near the rest of his immediate family, Henrie accepted the large Fluster clan as her own.

A few years later, her parents came out west to lend a hand -- Pamela had arrived in 1949, Matthew in 1951 and Lynn in 1954. The household grew again when Grandma Gussie moved in after Daddy Ike died.

Henrie enjoyed a large extended family and saw no difference between bloodlines and those acquired by love -- all were cared for and everyone had a welcome seat at her table. With Jerry holding down two jobs for many years, Henrietta ran an active home filled with family and friends.

Henrie loved being Jewish. Proud of her Reform heritage dating back to the Prague area from the very beginning of the movement, she enjoyed celebrating holidays, attending synagogue, the people she met there and her eventual job as one of the temple's secretaries.   This heritage also taught her to accept that everyone was part of the same human community without regard for any external circumstance such as race, religion, or economics.

Pink and purple were the favourite colours of this woman who aged in body but never in spirit. She always had cats so it comes as no surprise that the little poodle who stole her heart thought he was a cat, too. She loved flowers, especially roses, and her garden brought her great joy.

Though not a natural cook, with Jerry's help, enjoyment of food and many cookbooks later, Henrie centainly mastered the art and was only partially annoyed when everything she'd worked so hard to put on the table disappeared in mere moments.

Henrie may have been denied a place at college, but her thirsty brain was always busy. She eventually returned to school to learn bookkeeping and continued to be a voracious reader, devouring about 2 books a week and filling the shelves first in her own home and then in the library at her assisted living residence!

Henrie had a zest for life. She was a real charmer and responded people around her [recent question from caregiver: "How do you feel today, Henrie?" Answer: "With my fingers."]. She made friends easily throughout her long life and was a good friend. The saying in her 1930 graduation yearbook remained forever true: "When there are more friends, she will make them."

Though fiercely independent, Henrie finally accepted assisted living. She soon thrived at Whitman Senior Center and loved the people and her life there.

Henrietta was predeceased by her parents Augusta and Isaac, older brothers Joseph and Adolph, husband Jerome, daughter Lynn and companion Ed.

Henrie leaves to celebrate her well-lived life Pam [Karen] Hofmann, Matt [Char] Fluster, Lynn's husband Peter Smith; special nephew Barry [Sayoko] Fluster, grandchildren Aviva Hofmann [Aaron Shaw], Ian [Brigette] Hofmann, Andrew Smith [Carrie Cochran], Chelsea Smith [Rick Roslof], Dylan Fluster, and Graham Fluster, 5 great grandchildren, and many other dear relatives and treasured friends both silver and gold.

"It's time now, to sing out
Though the story never ends
Let's celebrate
and measure a life in love,"

This special soul will be sadly missed and joyfully remembered.

We thank Whitman Senior Center for the care and attention that gave Henrie such a high quality of life.

Cremation has taken place in Pullman. Burial and celebration of Henrie's life will be held in Los Angeles at a later date.

In accordance to her value and appreciation of human diversity, please make any donations in Henrietta's memory to the charity of your choice.