Jochewed "Anita" Werch

Jochewed Blumenzon Werch (Anita), a beautiful, brilliant and beloved wife, mother, sister, and grandmother passed away on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at home, surrounded by family. Born in Lodz, Poland, she escaped with her parents to Buenos Aires, Argentina, when she was two years old. She completed her education and medical school at the Facilidad De Ciencias Medicina at the Universidad De Buenos Aires in 1960. During her medical school training, she met the love of her life, Angel Werch. They moved to the United States to continue their training and eventually settle in Houston, where Anita served as Director of the Blood Bank at Ben Taub General Hospital and Associate Professor of Pathology at Baylor College of Medicine. She was passionate about her work, helping to develop blood testing during the AIDS epidemic, creating new techniques to reduce hepatitis and cytomegalovirus transmission in donated blood, and in bringing groundbreaking new technology like plasmapheresis to the Texas Medical Center. In 1980, Anita was part of a six-person team, led by Dr. Michael DeBakey, that traveled to Egypt to treat the deposed Shah of Iran. Anita was an incredible cook and hostess, and she reveled in bringing together family and friends for celebrations. She loved traveling the world, exploring new cultures through their food, art, and music. Anita adored music, especially classical and opera. She and Angel traversed the globe to listen to opera in the United States, Italy, Germany, and Russia. She loved serving on the board of the Chamber Music Houston, bringing musicians to Houston from all over the world. Anita could dance a stunning tango. She also played tennis and loved to ski. Anita was loved by all who knew her. She was smart, gracious, and stylish. She carried an aura of glamour and sophistication wherever she went, both in her personal and professional life. She leaves behind her adoring husband of 65 years, Angel Werch, two daughters, Sheila Werch Jacobson (Stuart) and Michelle Mellon-Werch (Mark), her sister and brother-in law, Zulema (Zully) and Roberto Lufschanowski and five grandchildren, Alexis Taylor (Jimmy), Claire Jacobson, Sarah Anhorn (Grant), Mordecai Mellon-Werch and Natasha Mellon-Werch. She is preceded in death by her parents, Rebeca and León Isaac Blumenzon and her beloved sister, Dora Dina Blumenzon. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, November 8, 2024, in the Gordon Chapel, at Congregation Beth Israel, 5600 N. Braeswood Blvd., Houston, Texas 77096. A livestream of the service will be available to view at the following link: https://www.beth-israel.org/about-us/news-events-upcoming-events/livestreaming/ In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Chamber Music Houston (https://chambermusichouston.my.salesforce-sites.com/donate/?dfId=a0n6e00000XAYDkAAP) in her honor.

Jochewed "Anita" Werch

June 28, 1934 - November 6, 2024