Obituaries are supported by a generous grant from Sinai Memorial Chapel.

Edith Foyer was born in Vienna on June 1, 1923 and passed away peacefully at her San Mateo home on August 9, 2018. She faced life with optimism and overcame tragedy and left her family the gift of her life story in her memoir, “A Time to Remember,” published in 2012.

Fleeing Austria in 1939, Edith and her parents were grateful to find refuge in Bolivia. In 1944 Edith met Karl Mautner, another Viennese refugee; they married in La Paz in 1945, and their son Willy was born a few years later. The young family left Bolivia in 1949 for Venezuela and settled happily into their new surroundings until Edith was tragically widowed when Karl died suddenly in 1952. Edith managed to support herself and her young son in Caracas by finding work as a Spanish-English bilingual secretary before they received visas to immigrate to join her family in the U.S. in 1956. Soon after arriving in New York she become engaged to Julius Foyer, also from Vienna. Edith and Julius married in San Francisco that year and they settled in San Mateo. The family grew when their son Mark was born in 1962.

Associations with her many good friends played a major part in Edith’s life. She and Julius were early members of Peninsula Temple Beth El. Over the years, Edith was a devoted member of Hadassah, Women’s American ORT, B’nai B’rith and the Senior Friendship Club of PTBE.

Edith loved traveling, and after Julius passed away in 1997, she pursued her passion making trips all around the globe. She led a full life into her later years, enjoying her family, attending the symphony and ballet, yoga classes, and current events discussion group. Her iPad and computer gave her access to friends through email and enjoyment playing Bridge and Solitaire.

Edith was beloved by and is survived by children Willy Mautner (Susan) and Mark Foyer; grandchildren Carl Mautner (Ainsley Morse) and Max Mautner; and great-granddaughter Ruth Mautner.

Donations in Edith’s memory may be made to the GBS-CIDP Foundation, 375 East Elm Street, Suite 1010, Conshohocken, PA 19428, supporting individuals and their families affected by Guillain-Barré Syndrome and related syndromes, or to HIAS, (hias.org),1300 Spring Street, Suite 500, Silver Spring, MD 20910, providing humanitarian aid and assistance to immigrants.

The surviving family of Jay Michael Freeman, 66, sadly marks his sudden and tragic loss, which occurred on June 21, 2018 in Prescott, Arizona, where he lived for the last 10 years.

Jay lived most of his life in San Francisco until he retired from his career as a wine broker in 2005. His work in the wine business began when, at 20 years old, he entered his grandfather’s wine distributorship. He was a top wine salesman for many years thereafter and, for the last 20 years of his career, was an independent wine broker. Jay loved the outdoors and lived an active lifestyle in retirement. He was a fantastic cook and, of course, a wine connoisseur.

Jay was a caring, proud and doting father to his daughter and to his year-old grandson. Jay was the eldest son of Dr. Mel and Joan Freeman; father of Arlene (Jared) Rodriguez and grandfather of Graven Rodriguez; brother of Lori (Michael) Fineman, Brad (Debbie) Freeman, and Jodi Alexander. He is remembered with love, including by his many nieces and nephews.

Frances Ratner passed away peacefully on August 8, 2018 in El Cerrito.

Born in New Jersey in 1926, her East Coast wit and accent remained with her throughout the many years she made her home in California. She was appreciated and loved as a sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and aunt. Perhaps the greatest gift in her life was becoming a grandmother to her two granddaughters. Smart, pragmatic, generous and never one to “hold back” her hilarious observations, she will be greatly missed.

Frances was buried at Hills of Eternity Memorial Park in Colma on August 12 alongside her husband, Edward Ratner, who preceded her in death in 1995. Donations in her memory may be made to Mazon or a charity of your choice.