Alma Orchinik
1929-1999
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A wonderful mother. |
Alma Orchinik was director of Children's Service for Jewish Family & Chilren's Service in Boston for 10 years until her retirement in 1994. Prior to that she was district director for Jewish Family Service in Philadelphia. She was certified as a diplomate by the national Board of Examiners in clincial Social Work. She was a founding member and fellow of the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work and had extensive training in gestalt therapy and transactional analysis.
She was born in Kinston, N.C., daughter of Isaac and Lottie Jenkins, and graduated from high school there. She earned a diploma in nursing, with honors, from Temple University, and a master's degree in social service from Bryn Mawr College, where she received the Helen Harbinson Award for Excellence in Casework.
Alma was an excellent writer, and an accomplished clarinet player and trumpet player. She learned to fly an airplane when she was in high school. She leaves two sons, Miles and Jeffery; a daughter, Valerie Crockett; and six grandchildren.
The following remarks were read by Valerie at Alma's funeral service on Nov. 23, 1999:
"What a wonderful mother I've had. And what wonderful gifts she's passing along.
"From the time I was such a little girl, as far back as I can remember, she gave me so much respect. She listened to what I had to say. When I think about being three or four years old, I remember being treated like a whole person. I wasn't a half of an adult. I was very young, but I had thoughts, and feelings, and opinions, and reasoning. And Mom almost always explained things to me, although, sometimes, eventually, as she put it, she "couldn't outsmart my logic," so it was just, "because I said so." But not often. And even then, I had the satisfaction that she had heard me. She gave a very little girl a very big sense of self-respect. What a wonderful gift from a mother.
"Mom always loved all of her children. Always cared about them. In that way she's like a compass, always pointing north, and never straying. I try so hard to be just like her, in that special way, to my kids. Always caring, always loving. What a wonderful thing to pass along in a lifetime.
"It was important to her to be a strong woman and it was very important to her that I become a strong and self-reliant woman too. Her belief in my potential, and the high standards she set for me, will always motivate me, just as her love and nurturing will always warm my heart.
"Several weeks ago, I wrote a song about slowly drifting away. At the time, I thought Mom might be holding on for us in some way. That maybe she felt she had to be strong for us. So I wrote this song to let her know it was OK, that whenever she decided it was right for her to die, I wouldn't think she was being weak.
"I never sang her that song, and not because I didn't have the chance. I could have sung it this past weekend. I thought of bringing my guitar so I could sing it to her. But she was beyond that. I almost felt a bit foolish. She didn't need my permission anymore. This was her own journey, and she did it with such dignity, such strength. She makes me proud. And her strength is such a wonderful gift, that I still draw upon, and try to pass on.
"So Mom, thanks for the gifts, the wonderful gifts. For giving me self-respect, strength, and the desire to be a loving and caring person. I hope to share your gifts with the people I meet, and especially, with the people I love. Mom, I love you very much. And I miss you already.
"Oh. And one more thing. Thanks for passing on the musical genes to your kids and grandchildren!"