Obituary of Anne Atkins- Rein

Anne Atkins Rein was born Channah Brundle Shabman in Poland in 1919. She came over 'on the boat' with her Mother, Ethel, when she was only 2 years old. With her great intelligence, drive and ingenuity she acclimated herself quickly to the new world and at 12 years old she was the English speaking voice for her parents and two younger brothers. She went to work as a secretary as soon as she could to help support her family while continuing her education at night. At 23 (old for the times) she married her husband, Jerry, and he encouraged her to continue her schooling in the daytime to finish her masters degree. She called it "a masters in sten and type" which I only realized years later was a Master's in Business Administration. She worked as a teacher in the NYC public schools full time and then part-time while raising three children. Her secret wish was to be a scientist which she did not fulfill. She went on to get a second Masters degree in Library Science to finish her work career as a librarian. Five years after Jerry died, she married Mike. She was 70 and he was 80. Together for 14 years they traveled extensively until he died at 94. As her daughter Lis said- She was a 'Pip' - which translates as an extraordinary, one of a kind person. She was strong, smart, resilient, and demanding. She had good ideas and advice for everyone, and she let you know it, even if you didn't want to take it. A few months after she came to Maravilla, 7 years ago, she let the administration know that they had a terrible (read non-existent) welcoming process for new residents. So, lo and behold, she became the welcoming committee. And until a week before her death she was still active in that position. At each of my visits to her, at least 2 or 3 people would come up to us in the dining room to talk about how much my mother had helped them get adjusted to their new circumstances. She died peacefully, knowing that "my children love me". She was surrounded by the four archangels and the Shekhina. What she wanted written on her gravestone is simply "loving mother and grandmother" and she was. Services to be held at Beth David Cemetery, Elmont, N.Y. In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to: Jewish Federation of Santa Barbara 524 Chapla Street Santa Barbara, CA 93103