Esther I. Boldes, 95, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania passed away on Saturday, September 18, 2021.

Esther was born in Frankfurt, Germany on February 1, 1926 to the late Max and Hedwig (Marx) Adler. Her life as a young girl was very tumultuous as the Nazis took control of Germany. Shortly after her father lost his job, they relocated to Prague, Czech Republic where some of his family was located. As the Nazis started to gain control of that region, her parents were able to get her to a port in Italy where she took one of the last ships going to Palestine to live with her sister.

 

It was during her time in Palestine that she joined the British Army. During her military service, she drove a large truck. During the War of Independence, she enlisted into the Israeli Army and again drove a large truck with supplies for the war effort. After the War of Independence, she continued to drive a truck to transport officers. This is when she met the man who would become her husband, Heinz Boldes. Not long after meeting each other, they got married and started their family.

It was in 1957 that they decided to come to America and start a new life as a family. In 1964, they settled in Harrisburg. Esther’s focus was always on her family and ensuring they were taken care of. She was a talented artist who would paint, create needle point, knit, and crochet. She also loved to travel with her husband and family all over the world.

Esther is preceded by her husband Heinz Boldes, her daughter and son-in-law Naava (Ken) Ellis, her sister Sarah Steinbach, her nephew Jehudah Steinbach, and her niece Rocha Bowitz. She is survived by her son Eitan (Rachel) Boldes, her grandchildren Audrey, Dina, and Aiden, her six great-grandchildren, and other beloved family and friends.

Graveside services were held on Thursday, September 23, 2021 at Chisuk Emuna Cemetery 10 34th St., Harrisburg, PA., 17109 with Rabbi Ron Muroff officiating.