Renée Grabiner
My mum, Renee Grabiner, was born Renee Geller at home in Stamford Hill on the 5th of May 1927. She was the second child of David and Betty, who already had a daughter, Joyce (Zichrona Livracha), and went on to give Renee a little brother, Seymour.
Joyce, Renee, and Seymour were the second generation of their family to be born in this country. Their grandparents had emigrated from Eastern Europe at the end of the nineteenth century.
Renee was a teenager during the war years, growing up in Edgware, until a bomb demolished a pub very near to their home, and her mother Betty refused to step foot in the house again. Following this they moved to St Albans and lived above the family business in Victoria Street.
Although Mum was very bright and spirited and certainly could have pursued further study, she had to leave school at 15 to help in “Betty’s”, the family women’s outfitters business. Like her mum, she was a gifted saleslady, and rarely let a customer walk out of the shop empty-handed.
After the war my dad, Henry, a dashing young man, returned to his family in St Albans, from RAF service in the Far East. He went into business with David Geller, Renee’s father, but got more than he bargained for. Renee and Henry were married on the 6th of July 1948 in Walm Lane Synagogue in Cricklewood. According to Seymour, even as a teenager, mum had set her sights on Henry
Both Henry and Renee’s families were founder members of St Albans’ United Synagogue
before he went off to the war. They went on to have a family of four children; first my older brother Michael, and then me, before Stephen and Robert came along. Although mum and dad were quite surprised, the twins were a welcome bargain; two for the price of one!
She was always very active and fully engaged in the business to support dad, and also took the major responsibility for running the house and the family. In the local community, she was a keen member, and for some time Chair, of St Albans’ Jewish Ladies’ Guild. Despite so many responsibilities and such a full and busy life, she still found time to play Kalooki on a regular basis.
Both Henry and Renee’s families were founder members of St Albans’ United Synagogue and were actively involved in the leadership of the shul and the community. Later in her life, mum continued to volunteer her time and energy with weekly visits to Jewish Care Sobell Centre in Golders Green.
An amazingly energetic and vivacious woman, who enjoyed being in company; she also had a fun and mischievous side. Mum frequently boasted to her children and grandchildren that she had never taken a driving test, since, during the war, they just handed licenses out. It goes without saying, that, despite being an immensely smart and talented woman, her driving was not one of her greatest talents!
Henry and Renee have twelve grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. As a younger grandmother, she spent many hours looking after her grandchildren, entertaining them with Duplo in the early years and traipsing round the shops choosing clothes. Later, she taught them Rummikub and played many hours of Kalooki. Even as they grew up, the grandchildren could never beat her fierce card and table tennis skills!
She enjoyed baking when she had the time and her apple strudel was the best in town.
Mum had a great sense of style, and she did all the buying for the women’s shop. Along with her fashion instincts, she inherited brilliant sewing skills from her mum, my Grandma Geller. In the shop, Renee would alter any dress to make it fit rather than lose a customer. She also spent hours shortening her grandsons’ school trousers at phenomenal speed, sometimes even as they were still wearing them.
Unfortunately, the last few years of her life were taken from her by such a cruel illness. It was only due to dad’s amazing care that she was able to remain at home for such a long time.
We are also all very grateful to the staff and management of Rubens’ House in Finchley for the wonderful care and support they have provided over the past five years.
Mum’s life can be summed up by the devotion and energy she gave her husband and children. The memory of this wonderful woman will continue to support and sustain us all throughout our lives.