For as long as I remember my mother, Larisa Striliver, she
was spinning a story. A story from her past, our present, our possible
futures. Here, in the US, I remember her telling the stories mostly in English, and sprinkling them with enthusiastic "Can you imagine?" and "I was so lucky". The stories were always coherent, colorful and mostly joyous.
My entire life I have felt a bit like a character in a story of hers. In her telling she endowed me with traits I never quite possessed but gradually developed to comply with her powerful storyline. For this, and countless other blessings she brought into my life, I am endlessly grateful.
Yonatan, the husband of my daughter, Judy, got to know Larisa
when she was 94. He described her thus, “If
you knew nothing about Granny’s life, but only listened to her, you might think
that she had lived a life of uninterrupted joy. And she shared this joy with
everybody.”
When my mother passed away we received many condolences but
the more touching and telling were from Judy and her friends.
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| Larisa's granddaughter's (Judy) note |
Nina and Judy,
I'm so sorry for your tremendous loss. The
world lost an incredibly kind, warm, and vibrant woman, and I know you two have
been hit with grief the hardest.
I will never forget the feel of her hands on
mine. Holding, then grasping, as the story she was telling got more and more
exciting (it always did).
And the bemused/adoring look she'd give Judy
and I when we'd be silly around the house. Her artwork. Her laughter. The
family-like warmth she displayed to all.
And the fierce devotion to family and
matriarchy you all showed us, from the way you loved and cared for each other.
Amy Preiser (Judy's high school friend)
Hi Nina,
Judy shared with me the news. While I'm sure
you're feeling a great deal of loss and sadness, I can't help but smile and
laugh at all the meals I shared with Granny around your dining table.
I would imagine it's rare for a woman over
80 to amuse a group of teenage girls but she did so effortlessly. I felt like
her grandaughter when I was around her. She was so warm and spirited and she
drew me into her incredible life stories. I've re-told her stories of the train
in Russia and coming to the US to many people over the years. She was just such
a remarkable character. If there were an opening for a fifth member of Chall
(Judith’s group of high-school friends), I would have
nominated Granny.
Just to give an idea of Larisa's verve, the video below shows her at
76, doing a high-school Tall Flags routine. She is
being trained by her grand-daughter, Alice.