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August 31, 2018

Edith Singer

Edie Singer was the youngest of three children and had two brothers, both of whom passed away. She was named after her father's father, Edward, giving her the full name Edith Edwarda, though she never met either of her grandparents, who lived in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her mother was born in Poland and left as an infant, growing up in Paris and living in England before immigrating to the United States around age twenty or twenty-one, first arriving in New York where she had relatives. Edie's parents met at a dance hall in Chicago, sharing a love of dancing, and married three months later, remaining together and raising their family.

Edie's path to Dallas was, in her words, accidental. She had been engaged to someone outside her faith, which troubled her parents, and after an uncle's funeral brought relatives together, her aunt and uncle from Texas offered her a chance to leave the situation. She left her ring with her mother and came to Dallas at seventeen, having graduated high school at sixteen. Her cousin Selma introduced her to Paul, and the two married when Edie was eighteen and a half. They first lived at the Village Apartments on Preston Road, then bought a small house they called the Enchanted Cottage, where all three of their children were born.

Edie and Paul were married at Shearith Israel. After being a stay-at-home mother for twelve years, she returned to work, first in insurance, then selling coffee service for a large food management company, and later enjoying a long career as an optician. She joined the National Council of Jewish Women as a young mother. Edie and Paul raised three children: Julie, who lives in Dallas; Mitchell, who lives in Florida with his wife Kathy; and Lisa, the youngest, who lives in California. They have three granddaughters. Reflecting on her life, Edie says she is proudest of her family and grateful for everything.

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