It is not a cliché to say that Paul Gass was Adele’s pride and joy, and her comfort in her old age. Photos of Paul dominated her photo collection.

After Max was gone, Adele relied on Paul to escort her to important family functions and social affairs.

Neither Adele or Max lived long enough to meet Paul's second wife, Xiaoli Hou, whom he married in December 2004.

Adele Gass battled emphysema and lung cancer at the end of her life. She passed away on November 26, 1993. Paul summed up her life in the eulogy he delivered at the funeral:

“I believe that everybody here knew my mother personally. She was born in Russia. Her own mother, Gittel, was killed in a pogrom when Adele was a child.

“My mother’s Hebrew name was Udl. She was named after the daughter of the Baal Shem Tov. Adele is a Yiddish word and stands for a ‘person of kindness and nobility of character.’  My mother lived up to her name.

“The Ba’al Shem Tov was the founder of Hasidic Judaism. He was a very spiritual person who loved, and believed in helping, every human being. In that sense, my mother was like a daughter to him.

“Her father of blessed memory, Jacob Korff, was the Zviller Rebbe in Russia and the Grand Rabbi of Boston. Adele was one of nine children. The others are: Rabbi Baruch Korff, Rabbi Nathan Korff, Betty Korff Berkowitz, Max Korff, Molly Korff Hixon, Martin Korff, and of blessed memory Rabbi Samuel Korff and Pauline Korff Kerber.

“My mother loved one man in her life, her husband of blessed memory, Max Gass. They were married for more than 50 years. She lived in Chelsea and Winthrop all her married life. She has two grandchildren, Lisa Gass Kochanovsky and Leslie Gass, and three children—of blessed memory my brother Jay and sister Janet—and myself.

 “Most of my mother’s personal interests focused on family, friends, and organiza­tions. She played golf and bowled until ten years ago. Although not known for her athletic prowess, she won two or more bowling trophies. She liked to play cards with close friends. In the sixties it was canasta, today, kaluki.

“Adele was a world traveler—to China, Australia, Russia, South America, Europe, Africa, and many times to Israel. While traveling she often stopped the tour bus or taxi when she saw a mezuzah on the doorpost. She would ring the bell, introduce herself as a fellow Jew, and would be warmly welcomed. She was then not only able to see the country but was also introduced to the Jewish life of the people of that country.

 “When my mother was around young people she would beam. You could see the joy when her grandchildren, nieces, and nephews called or visited. She loved all children.

“She spoke from the heart—If it was in her heart, it was on her tongue. She was always right to the point; feisty and compassionate, strong-willed and tough. She has, and probably still has, a very strong spirit. She believed that after a body dies, the spirit lives on.

“Nothing was below her dignity to help any human being in need. She had great intuitive ability with regard to people. Her connection with people and organiza­tions are long-standing and deep. It didn’t matter whether the person was a clean­ing person, a friend, family member, politician, entertainer, or whether the person was gay, black, or brown, she bridged generations—she was everyone’s Auntie Adele.

“She had no patience for takers or for people who did not do the right thing. If you did not do the right thing she let you know it and she could use strong language. She also believed that everyone could change and become a good person. She was a no nonsense lady. In two seconds or less you knew what she wanted or what she was thinking.

“My mother was involved in many organizations. One activity not commonly know is that my mother drove a truck, an ambulance, and even a motorcycle for the Red Cross during World War II.

“She was a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Jewish Memorial Hospital. For more than 55 years she was a tireless worker. She was president of an auxiliary for the hospital, which attracted many attendees to its fundraisers. The people enjoyed coming, they contributed whatever they could, and over the years these contributions yielded hundreds of thousands of dollars of support for the hospital.

 “There was nothing my mother wouldn’t do for a patient at Jewish Memorial, from cleaning bedpans to establishing a beauty salon. She provided invaluable input at board meetings. She had great organizational skills and managed major functions from celebrity night to fashion shows, bus trips, and auxiliary meetings.

	Click here to listen to Adele Korff Gass’s reaction to the news that she might have lung cancer. (Recorded November 9, 1992 in Winthrop, Massachusetts)

     
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