Ardis Joy Zarem (nee Levin) died at the Aurora VNA Zilber Family Hospice on Nov. 27 of a rare cancer of the soft tissue. She was 62.
Zarem graduated from Shorewood High School in 1963. In 1974, while pregnant with her second child, Zarem graduated with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in fine arts.
She used her art to “add to the beauty of the world,” said her husband, Marshall. She organized art shows for the National Council of Jewish Women, made ceramic tzedakah boxes, and designed logos for the Wisconsin Institute for Torah Study and the 100th anniversary of the Jewish Home and Care Center.
Zarem participated in many invitational and juried art shows, and her work can be found in synagogues and private collections throughout the U.S. and the world. In her later years she worked in ultra-suede, creating Torah, challah and matzah covers.
Zarem’s son, Avie, who had planned to marry next fall, rescheduled the ceremony twice before moving it to the hospice, which had never before hosted a wedding. Avie and his bride, the former Adrienne Sciberras, were married there just over a week before Zarem’s death, under an intricately designed chuppah that she spent a year making. The family also enjoyed two Shabbat dinners and a Thanksgiving feast at the hospice with her.
Besides art, Zarem enjoyed cooking, fishing, soccer, and telling stories. She was an active member of Congregation Beth Israel, Hadassah-Milwaukee Chapter, Women’s American ORT, National Council for Jewish Women, Junior Achievement Women’s Division, Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center and Jewish Home and Care Center.
In addition to husband Marshall Zarem of Milwaukee and son Avie (Adrienne) Zarem, of Portland, Ore., she is survived by son Elie Zarem of Washington, D.C.; daughter Mindy Zarem (Jonathan Bachrach) of Cambridge, Mass.; brothers Lloyd (Sheri) Levin of Milwaukee and Jim (Joni) Levin of Asheville, N.C.; and one granddaughter.
Rabbi Jacob Herber officiated at funeral services on Nov. 29. Burial was in Second Home Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were handled by Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home.
The family appreciates charitable contributions in her honor to Congregation Beth Israel, NCJW, or the Milwaukee Jewish Federation.
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