Helen Rotenberg

Helen Rotenberg passed away on November 5, 2024, in Pasadena, California of natural causes at the age of 97. She was born in Poland on March 15, 1927, and was a holocaust survivor.  After immigrating to the United States on 1949 she and her husband Harry Rotenberg lived in San Francisco, CA.  They moved to Petaluma in 1954 where they purchased and operated a chicken ranch on Magnolia Ave.  In 1966 as the chicken industry in Petaluma declined, they purchased an ice cream and candy store under the business name of Schafer’s Ice Cream and Candy in San Anselmo, Ca.  Several years following the death of her husband, Helen married Martin Lewin, they resided in the Bay Area for several years before relocating to Sierra Madre, CA.

Helen is survived by her sons Dr. Keith Rotenberg (Jean) and Judge Fred Rotenberg (Lori) both of whom attended elementary, middle and high school in Petaluma. Helen was the grandmother of Beth Rotenberg (Matthew Snyder), Markus (Allie) Rotenberg, Mitchell (Kari) Rotenberg, Corinne (James) Wessel, and Jenelle (Dustin) Graf.  Helen is the great grandmother of Maia and Stephen Snyder, Breeze and Cove Rotenberg, Aden and Noa Rotenberg, Avery and Camryn Wessel, and Rook and Rhea Graf. Helen was a 34 year member of B’nai Israel Jewish Center in Petaluma, a 22 year member of the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center and a Lifetime member of Hadassah.

She was buried at the B’nai Israel Cemetery in Petaluma in a private ceremony attended by family members. Donations can be made to Israel Defense Force (https://support.fidf.org/), Hadassah (https://www.hadassah.org) or Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center (https://www.pjtc.net).