Claire K. Sorkow

Claire Kushner Sorkow, 88, of Lake Charles, LA peacefully left this life on February 21, 2011.

Mrs. Sorkow was born March 3, 1922 to Col. L. Z. Kushner and Gladys Kushner in Lake Charles, LA. She was a graduate of Lake Charles High School in 1939 and McNeese State University with a B.S. in Liberal Arts. She was a member of two Mardi Gras crews, Mystique and de la Famile. Mrs. Sorkow was best known for her humanitarian, civic, and cultural activities including: Homesharer's of Southwest Louisiana for Senior Citizens, American Cancer Society, Calcasieu Parish Medial Society Auxiliary, Louisiana Academy of Family, Physicians Auxiliary, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council of Southwest Louisiana, and Central School Parent-Teachers Association. She served as vice president of the Gateway Foundation and Louisiana State Medical Society Auxiliary and as secretary of the Salvation Army Auxiliary, Artist Civic Theatre and Studio, Temple Sinai Sisterhood, and Louisiana State Medical Society Auxiliary. Mrs. Sorkow was also a member of Art Association, Imperial Calcasieu Museum, Calcasieu Arts and Humanities Council, Temple Sinai, Louisiana Chorale Foundation, Ballet Society of Southwest Louisiana, Lake Charles Ballet Society, Lake Charles Symphony, and the Artist Civic Theatre and Studio.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband of sixty-four years, Dr. Eli Sorkow; and her brother, Charles Kushner.

Mrs. Sorkow leaves to cherish her memory her two sons, Louis (Casey) and William (Bill) Sorkow; her daughter-in-law, Donna; grandchildren, Katie, Zachery, Paige, Alexander, and Benjamin; and her great-grandchildren, Liam and Hunter Chase.

She also leaves behind a multitude of friends and relatives and her very special friend, Shirley Griffen.

Her funeral celebration will be at 11:00 AM on Friday, February 25 at Temple Sinai, 713 Hodges Street. Rabbi Barry Weinstein will officiate. Burial will follow in Orange Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be at Johnson Funeral Home on Thursday from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM and continue at Temple Sinai on Friday from 10:00 AM until the start of the service.

Donation in memory of Mrs. Sorkow may be made to Temple Sinai Tree of Life Fund, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, or McNeese State University Foundation.

The family would like to extend a special word of thanks to Dr. Steven Hedlesky of Lake Charles Memorial Hospital ER, Dr. Alan LeBato and the LSU residents, Dr. Carl Fastabend, and the ICU nursing staff at Memorial Hospital.