Mrs. HANNAH LEAH FREEMAN KLEIN

FORT WORTH -- Hannah Leah Freeman Klein, a little lady with the strength of a giant, passed away May 3, 2017, after a heroic struggle with heart failure. Mrs. Klein was 90. Service: 11 a.m. Monday at Beth-El Congregation, 4900 Briarhaven, Fort Worth, with Rabbi Brian Zimmerman officiating. Following committal prayers, she will be laid to rest in the Beth-El section of Greenwood Memorial Park. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, consideration of contributions to Jewish Children’s Regional Service, P.O Box 7368, Metairie, LA 70010, or the American Heart Association, in her memory, is suggested. Born Feb. 26, 1927 in Waco, Hannah was the youngest of five daughters of Abraham Asher and Etta Rebecca Fram Freeman. She was virtually orphaned by the age of 13 after both of her parents’ untimely deaths during their forties. Having a number of relatives in Dallas, she was “farmed out” to live with an aunt. Hannah attended Forest Avenue High School from which she graduated as salutatorian and received a partial scholarship as well as invitation to join a national sorority. She made outstanding grades at SMU but could not continue due to a lack of domestic support. Hannah started in the work force at the Otis Elevator Company in Dallas and went on to run the office of the General Electric (GE) Heating and Air Conditioning branch in Dallas. In 1961, she transferred to the GE Space Division in Philadelphia where she was executive secretary to chief engineer, Harvey Heckman for some 28 years. In all of her career she received outstanding evaluations for her performance. She retired in 1987 and returned to Fort Worth. Even after retirement she was always a “company person” who took note of every big move by GE such as their new locomotive plant in Fort Worth. Hannah Leah was born talented in music and began to play the piano at the age of five. With her long fingers caressing the keys she was a joy to hear, whether playing “Home on the Range”, “Bumble Boogie”, or a classical piece. She also loved to play “down home music” accompanied by Joe on the harmonica. She had her own baby grand piano from the Philadelphia days and always said that wherever she went, the piano had to go. She kept her word! She was recording secretary for the local Jewish Women International and corresponding secretary for the Jewish War Veterans of the United States where she became an associate life member, accompanying Joe to the meetings. But her greatest interest and application of her work talents was in the Jewish archives of Tarrant County where under the direction of Hollace Weiner, she literally laid the foundation for the project and continued to work on it until health forced her to reluctantly retire. Joe and Hannah married in August of 2010, and moved from Bedford to The Vantage in 2012. Hannah was not a TV watcher but rather studied and discussed history, religion, and patriotic subjects. She always wanted to be a partner with her husband, even to learning a dab about airplanes and baseball. Her petite appearance and demeanor earned her respect and warm feelings as well as several appellations. To Joe she was “Precious” and “Sweetheart”, while a certain Vantage housekeeper called her “Mamacita”. This little trooper will always be loved and missed by those who knew her, but none more than Joe. Survivors: In addition to her husband, Joe, Hannah is survived by his son Steven and daughter in law Fidelia of Los Angeles; nieces, Elayne and her husband, Mark Walters and their family, Michal Shimshoni and her family in Israel; Joyce Walters, mother of Mark; great-nieces, Alexandra Engler and Jeanie Engler and her husband, Rich Lichtman; and family friend, Mary Papai-Moore. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mrs. HANNAH LEAH FREEMAN KLEIN please visit our Sympathy Store.