Erna (Stein) Biberstein (1890 - 1978)

Born 11 Feb 1890 in Lublinitz, Selesia, Prussia, Germany

Ancestors

Wife of Hans Biberstein — married 5 Dec 1920 in Breslau, Germany

Died 15 Jan 1978 at age 87 in Davis, California, United States

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Erna (Stein) Biberstein survived by emigrating to the USA.

Erna (Stein) Biberstein has Jewish Roots.

Biography

Erna stein was born in 1890 in Lublinitz, Selesia, Prussia, Germany. Her parents were Siegfried Stein and Auguste Courant. Soon after Erna's birth the family moved to Breslau. Her father died when she was three years old and the family struggled to make ends meet until her mother built up the family business some years later. Erna was fortunate that by the time she left school her mother was able to afford to support her studies at University, she and her younger sister Edith were the only ones in the family to have this privilege. In fact women were only admitted to university in Prussia one year before Erna began her course in 1909. Erna was naturally gifted in languages and literature and had intended to teach but her Uncle David, who was a pharmacist in Chemnitz, persuaded her to study medicine. She qualified as a medical doctor and opened a surgery for obstretics and gynecology on the ground floor of her mother's large house in Michaelisstrasse, Breslau. On December 5th 1920 Ena married Hans Biberstein and they had two children. When Erna's friend, Dr. Lilli Burg-Platau, emigrated to Palestine in 1933, Erna took over her practice on the other side of town and the family moved out of house on Michaelisstrasse, into a more Jewish area, as Erna was, by this time losing her non-Jewish patients. As more and more restrictions were introduced the family emigrated to U.S.A. in 1939 to get away from the oppressive regime and persecution of Jews in Germany. Erna found life in New York difficult. She worked at a hospital in Brooklyn, but was happy to give up this work and care for her first grandchild, who was born in 1944. She kept on her private practice for some time. Erna died suddenly from a heart attack when she was visiting her son in California. She was buried next to her husband in Cedar Park Cemetery, New Jersey.

Sources

U.S. Social Security Death Index (SSDI)

Record: Erna Biberstein Country: USA; State: New York; Township: New York

Citation:

Erna Biberstein

Birth: Feb 11 1890

Death: Jan 1978

Last residence: New York, New York 10023, USA

The following death notice was published in the New York Times: BIBERSTEIN—Dr. Erne‐(nee Stein) age 87. Lovingly remembered by her children Susanne & Alfred Batzdorff, Ernst & Hannah Biberstein, 7 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren. Services, Friday, Jan 20th, 12:30PM, the Riverside, 76th St & Amsterdam Ave. Please omit flowers.

See Also:

• Edith Stein Life in a Jewish Family An Autobiography Published 1986 ICS Washington

• Aunt Edith by Hans and Erna's daughter Suzanne Batzdorff Published 1998 Templegate