Tombstone Tuesday: Frank and Rose Lerner, Montefiore Cemetery, Queens, NY

Frank (Froim) Lerner emigrated from Labun on the S.S. California in 1913.[1] He was already married to his wife Rose (Rakhma) and already had three children: Esther, Sylvia and Jack. I have previously written about Jack here and here.

Here lies

Beloved father

Efraim son of Yechezkeil

Died 13 Tishri 5710

May his soul be bound in the bonds of the living

FRANK

LERNER

DIED OCT. 6, 1949

AGE 76 YEARS

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BELOVED 

FATHER

Perhaps it was the start of World War I and, later, the Russian Revolution and the subsequent civil war in Russia that kept Rakhma and the children from immigrating. Many families were caught between continents during that time.

AT REST

Here lies

An important and modest woman

Khana Rokhman Lerner

daughter of Yitzkhak

Died 16 Tammuz 5690

May her soul be bound in the bonds of the living

-----

ROSE

LERNER

DIED JULY 11, 1930

AGE 51 YEARS

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BELOVED WIFE

AND

DEAR MOTHER

Ultimately, however, the family was reunited and settle in Brooklyn. 

While I have not located a manifest that includes Rose, Sylvia and Jack, I have found that the eldest child, Esther, married in the old country and arrived in Philadelphia with her husband David Lerman in 1921.[2] The 1930 U.S. census, indicates that Rose, Sylvia and Jack arrived in the United States in 1921, as well.[3] 

On his passenger manifest in 1913, Froim Lerner reported that he was a merchant, living in Labun, but born in "Constantine" (likely Staro Konstyantiniv). Frank tried several occupations in New York City. When he naturalized in 1926, he said he was a jeweler.[4] In the 1930 census enumeration he was an operator (likely in some sort of clothing concern). By the 1940  census, he had retired.[5]

Rose's gravestone is unusual in that it indicates her maiden name: Rokhman. I have noted other Rochman's in the Montefiore Cemetery plot and more in passenger manifests of former Labun residents, but I thus far have not been able to link Rose to any of them.

Rose died after exploratory surgery in treatment of a brain tumor at the age of 49.[6]

Frank and Rose are buried in the First Lubiner Progressive Benevolent Association plot at Montefiore Cemetery, NY. They are both in block 89, gate 156W. Frank is buried in line 8R, grave 3. Rose is in line 4L, grave 2

Notes:

1. "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 18 December 2010), manifest, S.S. California, Liverpool to New York, arriving 12 March 1913, list 9 (handwritten), line 16, Froim Lerner; citing NARA microfilm publication T715, roll 2027.  

2. "New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957," digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 25 October 2015), manifest, S.S. Samland, Antwerp to Philadelphia, arriving 2 July 1921, list 33 (handwritten), lines 5 & 6, Dawid and Ester Lerman; citing NARA microfilm publication T840, roll 143. 

3. 1930 U.S. Census, kings County, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, enumeration district 24-1794, sheet 7B, dwelling 62, family 123, Frank, Rose and Sylvia Lerner; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 December 2010); NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 1493.

1930 U.S. Census, kings County, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, enumeration district 24-14222, sheet 10A, dwelling 17, family 231, Jack and Edna Learner family; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 October 2015); NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 1493.

4. Frank Lerner petition for naturalization (1926), naturalization file no. 49309, Eastern District of New York; Record Group 21L Records of the District Courts of the United States; National Archives-Northeast Region, New York City.

5. 1940 U.S. Census, Kings County, New York, population schedule, Brooklyn, enumeration district 24-2722, sheet 61B, household 270, Frank Lerner; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 October 2015); NARA microfilm publication T627, roll 2618.
6. New York County, New York, death certificate no. 17075 (1930), Rose Lerner, 11 July 1930, Municipal Archives, New York.