'Everything was family' to Olga Betesh

AFTER HER husband died, Olga Betesh lived alone in her Atlantic City home, but she was rarely lonely.

Nieces and nephews would call, and her greeting varied little from, "Darling, I'm so glad you called. It's wonderful to hear your voice."

How could anyone resist a greeting like that? The young folks would visit and Olga "made a wonderful experience for them," said Joan K. Betesh, her daughter-in-law.

Olga was an amazing cook, following in the tradition of her Syrian-Jewish ancestors, preparing kebbe, yebra (grape leaves stuffed with various ground meats in many tasty varieties) and other dishes.

"In the Middle Eastern tradition, women weren't allowed to do much, so they perfected their cooking skills," Joan Betesh said. "Olga followed in that tradition."

Olga Betesh, who with her late husband operated the St. Charles Linen Shop, on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, for a about 25 years, and a much-honored family matriarch, died Monday. She was 95.

She was born in New York City's Lower East Side to Rabbi Ezra Sutton and Bahia Sutton, immigrants from Aleppo, Syria.

As a child, she moved with her family to Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, in the heart of New York's Syrian- Jewish community. Olga spoke fluent Arabic throughout her life.

"She always considered herself a Syrian Jew, but she was a patriotic American," Joan Betesh said. "Her parents, who came through the Depression and World War II in Syria, appreciated that they could live in freedom in America."

As a young woman, Olga worked as a salesperson for a store on Fifth Avenue. In 1949, she married Isaac Betesh, a recent immigrant from Syria. They moved to Atlantic City and opened the linen shop in a kosher hotel, the St. Charles, in 1950.

"She was an equal partner in running the store," her daughter-in-law said, "and even after she taught her husband English, she did all the work that required writing."

The store closed in 1975.

Olga was a an officer in the Sisterhood of the Sephardic synagogue, Shaarei Zion, in Brooklyn, and became a member of Community Synagogue, in Atlantic City.

"She was an extraordinary woman, remarkably strong," Joan Betesh said. "She didn't have much formal education, but she knew all about the Sephardic tradition.

"Everything was family to her. She was a very disciplined and organized person."

Her husband died in 1999.

She is survived by two sons, Joel and Victor; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Services: Were yesterday.

Donations in her name may be made to AMIT, an organization that nurtures and educates children in Israel, c/o Eve Kovsky, 224 Monroe St., Philadelphia PA 19147.