Their Daughter, Pearl Ness

Flora and Harry's youngest child, their only daughter, was named Perel, or Pearl. She was born in 1917 and was the first child of three born to Flora and Harry Ness in their flat in the East New York section of Brooklyn. Pearl attended public school there and was most proud of her time at Thomas Jefferson High School, which she always said was one of the best public schools in New York City. Knowing that, I created a Facebook group, "Brooklyn's Thomas Jefferson High School," which now has nearly three-thousand members, most of whom are alumni or progeny of alumni from the school.

Pearl was my mother. She loved being part of her family and having two loving brothers, Arthur and Bernard. Pearl fondly remembers the nickname given to her and her brother Bernie -- "Berel and Perel." She told me so many stories about their life in Brooklyn.

She knew that she was loved by everyone in her family, especially her parents, who were always there for her. She spoke most highly of her parents and their dedication to their family. How fortunate she was! How wonderful a mother she was too!