Memorial for elderly couple killed at Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh where they married 60 years ago

Mourners watch as the hearse carrying the casket of Richard Gottfried leaves the Ralph Schugar Funeral home in Pittsburgh following a memorial service today. Mr Gottfried's funeral was one of two to take place today in the city following the brutal slaying of 11 worshipers at the Tree of Life on Saturday. Sylvan and Bernice Simon, who were married at the synagogue, were also remembered at a service attended by the Consul General of Israel.
AP
Nick Charity1 November 2018
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Mourners have gathered in Pittsburgh today for the funeral of an elderly couple who were among 11 gunned down at the Tree of Life synagogue - the same place where they were married over 60 years ago.

Friends and family trickled into the Ralph Schugar Chapel late in an overcast morning for the funeral of Sylvan Simon, 86, a retired accountant, and his wife, Bernice, 84, a retired nurse.

The couple have been married for nearly 62 years and “were beloved and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided”, heard the service, as quoted by Dani Dayan, the state of Israel's Consul General in New York.

He told the Standard from the funeral: "I quoted from the Book of Proverbs: “Time to be silent and time to speak”.

The funeral of Bernice and Sylvan Simon is to begin in Pittsburgh. They “were beloved and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they were not divided”
Dani Dayan

"Now is time to bow heads, recite prayers and shed tears," he added. "But then will come the time to speak, and to speak forcefully against the beast of antisemitism that raised its head and its arm."

Augie Siriano, a custodian at Tree of Life, said the couple often brought him chocolate chip cookies, and that Sylvan Simon liked to talk about the Pittsburgh Steelers professional football team.

Anat Halevy Hochberg of Brooklyn, New York, visits a makeshift memorial outside the Tree of Life Synagogue today (Thursday, November 1) while worshipping in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Funerals continue as the families of Sylvan Simon and his wife Bernice, and dentist Richard Gottfried gathered to commemorate the lives of those lost in the brutal mass killing on October 27.
AP

"They were just wonderful, graceful people," Ms Siriano said.

Two funerals took place today for victims of the at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pitttsburgh.

Also remembered was Richard Gottfried, a “loyal” and a beloved dentist known well in his community.

Mr Gottfried, 65, was laid to rest today at the Ralph Shuger Chapel, and queues formed in the streets as people arrived to attend his visitation.

People pay their respects Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018, at a makeshift memorial for the 11 people killed while worshipping on Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Tree of Life synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
AP

Dr. Jane Segal, a dentist who graduated from the University of Pittsburgh a year ahead of Gottfried, said he was a “wonderful man and a wonderful dentist.”

“You couldn’t find anyone finer,” she said.

Also in line was Dr. Paul Taicelt, who said he and Gottfried had provided free dental clinics and volunteered for Catholic Charities together.

“He was very conscientious and very loyal,” Taicelt said. “And all of his patients loved him.”

Robert Bowers, 46, has pleaded not guilty to killing 11 worshippers at the Pittsburgh synagogue. He was described as an avowed anti-Semite, and appeared to "swagger" when he appeared in court today dressed in a red jumpsuit with a bandaged left arm.

Judge Robert Mitchell of the District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania told him some of the charges could result in the death penalty.

Bowers was injured in a shoot-out with police during the massacre at the synagogue in what is believed to be the worst anti-Semitic attack in recent U.S. history.

He is accused of bursting into the synagogue and opening fire with a semi-automatic rifle and three pistols in the midst of the Sabbath prayer service, shouting "All Jews must die."

Six people, including four police officers, were wounded before the suspect was shot by police and surrendered.

The attack followed a wave of pipe bombs mailed to prominent Democrats and critics of President Donald Trump - and was said to heighten national tensions days ahead of the US mid-term elections.

On Tuesday voters will decide which parties control Congress.

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