Sylvia Sicherman

Sylvia Sicherman, of Netanya, Israel, formerly of Wilkes-Barre, passed away on Thursday, May 26, 2016, in Netanya, Israel.

She and her husband, Alex, were proprietors of The Academy Market in South Wilkes-Barre from 1965 until 1980. She was 96 years old. Alex passed away in 1998. They were married 52 years.

Born in Czechoslovakia, Sylvia suffered at the hands of the Nazi regime in World War II and survived the Auschwitz concentration camp.

She met Alex after the war on the road to a resettlement camp. They married in Naples, Italy, shortly after.

The young couple arrived in New York City in 1947, moved several years later to Exeter, then to Wilkes-Barre. In 1987, they retired to Israel to spend the remainder of their days with surviving family. Sylvia lived on her own until the age of 94 after which she moved to the Jenny Breuer residence, a special campus in Tel Aviv for Holocaust and WWII survivors.

Sylvia and Alex were active members of the Ohav Zedek Synagogue.

Surviving are daughters, Susan Balistocky, of Los Angeles, Helene Sicherman, of Newbury Park, California, and Sharon Shapira, of Beit Rimon, Israel; a son, Joel, of Forty Fort, six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Shiva was held in Israel at the home of Sharon Shapira, Beit Rimon.

Contributions can be made to Ohav Zedek Synagogue, 242 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, PA, 18701, or to the charity of one's choosing.

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