Miriam N. Sternstein's Obituary
Miriam Novack Sternstein, 85, long time Tucson resident, passed away, Friday, March 21st. Miriam and her husband, Aaron Sternstein, moved to Tucson from Chicago, Illinois in 1949, to join other family members and start a family of their own. She worked long hours in the family business, while raising her three children and keeping a beautiful home. With her children married and starting families of their own, Miriam continued to work until retirement, though still making family her priority. She found immense joy in spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whether watching over them at the pool, helping to get them home from school or joining in family celebrations. She never missed a birthday acknowledgment After retirement, Miriam volunteered at the University of Arizona Medical Center, where, for more than 25 years, she warmly welcomed and assisted visitors in navigating the vastness of the hospital, to get to their appointments and be with their loved ones. Donating over 13,000 hours of her time, she received numerous honors and recognitions for her volunteer service, including the Dorothy F. Novak Distinguished Volunteer Award in 2005. Miriam's outspoken advocacy for improvements to help visitors to the Medical Center made her well known and kindly regarded among the hospital's administration, who inscribed her 2005 award so as to singularly recognize her as the "voice of concern." Miriam was predeceased by Aaron in 1970 and is survived by her children, Alan Sternstein of Bethesda, Maryland, Ken Sternstein (Lenora) of Tucson and Debbie Simon (Marc) of Tucson. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Amy Welander (Brett), Jeffrey and Jason Simon and Aliya and Rachel Sternstein, and by her great-grandchildren, Evan and Shea Welander. She is survived, too, by her sister, Fern Dayno of Chicago, Illinois. Grave-side services will be held on Tuesday, March 25 at 10:30 a.m. Temple Emanu-El Section, EVERGREEN MORTUARY & CEMETERY, N. Oracle & W. Miracle. Family requests remembrances be made to Diamond Children's Center, c/o University of Arizona Foundation, PO Box 210109, Tucson, AZ 85721-0109.
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