Born on March 17, 1936, Karla fled Czechoslovakia in 1939 with her brother (Eugene Finton, z”l) and parents, Joseph and Mary Finkelstein, arriving in America after a treacherous journey by train, boat, and train again, through Ukraine, Russia, Japan, Hawaii, and San Francisco, arriving three years later at their final destination, Buffalo, NY, into the welcoming arms of the Finkelstein, Farber, and Schanzer family.

Raised on the East side, she attended Bennet High School, was awarded her Masters in Art from Buffalo State Teacher’s College, married her beloved, Louis Wiseman, birthed three girls: Cindi, Susan, and Marci, and began her career as Kadimah art teacher in 1971. She served as USY chaperone and advisor for most of the 1970’s and 1980’s, and BBYO Director in the 1990s. At some point in the ‘90’s she began her second, joyful career in the adult programming department at the JCC.

Karla was always busy. Busy with chasing after her big brother. Busy with art. Busy taking care of her parents. Busy being a newlywed. Busy raising kids. Busy with her friends. Busy with her career. Busy helping her husband build his business. Busy volunteering in the community, busy programming for adults at the JCC. Busy with her mahj and canasta groups. Busy knitting caps for babies…

And many people benefited from her busy-ness.

She was involved in everything: her sorority (she was a Sammy girl), her synagogue, Hadassah, USY, BBYO, Hebrew school, Hebrew High, the Jewish Center... but mostly, she was busy with her family, keeping us active and involved in all Jewish activities: camp, temple, Kadimah, Hebrew school, Israeli relatives, and Israel trips. She was the consummate, Jewish community, professional.

She was strict, but forgiving, she ran a tight ship as an art teacher and youth group advisor but she did it with a big heart, and a lot of love.

And this woman was up for anything:
Tent camping, tobogganing, apple picking, hayrides, road trips, museum visits, shopping, hiking, amusement parks, boat rides, family camp at Centerland, and schmoozing! She had a wide circle of friends with whom she played mah-jongg, and canasta, and would sit out in our driveway with neighbors and just talk the night away. Sadly, many of her dear friends left us way too early, but she kept adding new friends, new mahj games, and new canasta games, up until the very end.

Karla would have celebrated her 67th wedding anniversary with her husband Louis in just a few days. And she enjoyed every single one of those years with him.

In his grief, Lou penned this poem to her:

A note to my sweetheart:

For a wonderful sixty seven,
And now up in heaven
Is my wonderful gorgeous wife
The love and joy of my life.
Hugs and kisses gone forever
Tears, smiles, and laughter are also never
Up in heaven she is to be
Patiently waiting for me.
To be with her once again
Up there in heaven.

Thank you for pausing in your own busy day to read this. May Karla’s name always be for a blessing.