New centenarian passes away New centenarian passes away (October 08, 2004)

Six days after celebrating her 100th birthday, Belle Bernstein passed away in her sleep Oct. 1.

Bernstein, a native of New Jersey, was one of El Camino Hospital's oldest dialysis patients and one of only about 40 dialysis patients nationwide to hit the century mark. Hospital staff members threw Bernstein a birthday party, a photo of which appeared in last week's issue of the Voice.

Last Friday, employees at Mountain View's Grant Cuesta nursing home had given Bernstein her nightly bath and left her in a semi-sitting position in her bed. When they came to check on her again, she was slumped over.

"Belle has extended the phrase 'here today, gone tomorrow' to new heights since there was no pain or prolonged anguish associated with her death," said Bernstein's daughter-in-law, Roberta.

Bernstein is survived by her son Sidney and his wife Roberta, grandchildren Meryl and Marc, her sister Zelda and many nieces and nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by husband Louis and son Robert.

Funeral services were held Wednesday in Westwood, N.J. where Bernstein was buried on the family plot.

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