Obituary
Leila attended Roosevelt High School and College as a drama and education major. She helped run Neil Handelman Photography and was the post-simcha face who helped thousands of families tell their stories through their albums. Leila was extremely involved in Shaare Tikvah synagogue and the Jewish community at large. She loved theater and after retirement ushered as a “Saint” for plays around the city. “Mama Leila” nourished hundreds of her children’s friends with her food and cherished them with her ear. She was the most amazing listener, confidant, and storyteller who made every person she met feel valued and heard.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to charity of your choice or Chicago Mitzvah Campaign, chicagomitzvahcampaign.org.
Chapel service, Thursday 10 AM at Shalom Memorial Funeral Home, 1700 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. Interment Shalom Memorial Park. For information, including a link to view the service, shiva or to leave condolences: Shalom Memorial Funeral Home, www.shalommemorial.org or (847) 255-3520.
Service Information
Service : Thursday, March 7th at 10:00 am
Service Location: Shalom Chapel Service -Shalom Memorial Funeral Home
Interment:
Shalom Memorial Park
1700 W. Rand Road
Arlington Heights
Guest Book & Memories
Share your memories and photographs below.
June 18th, 2024
Last night, I attended the grant awards for the Saints and talked briefly with Lane Alexander, the founder of Chicago Human Rhythm Project, who mentioned all the hard work and wonderful things that Leila did for his organization. He mentioned that Leila had recently passed away, and this was the first that I had heard about it. I will definitely miss her. She and her husband were two of my favorite Saints. Leila’s enthusiasm and energy were contagious, and I really loved being in Leila’s presence.
~Deborah Granite
~Friend/Saints Usher, Skokie, IL
March 19th, 2024
Today I was sorting photos my dear mother of blessed memory kept since we lived in Chicago. I opened the frame of a favorite photo of my wonderful father of blessed memory playing guitar and on the back found a photographer’s stamp for De Luxe Studios on Kedzie and a description written by my dad. It was the Johanna show 90th anniversary at the Drake Hotel, 60 years ago this month. Beshert! I googled and am sorry to read that Neil z’l and now Leila z’l have passed away. I am thankful for this photo of my dad and extend to you all sincere condolences on the tremendous loss of remarkable people full of lovingkindess. May their memories be for a blessing .
~Diane
~please see message, Washington, DC
March 7th, 2024
So many stories….so many memories. One that especially comes to mind right now – Thanksgiving at your house. We were all seated at the table, when Leila asked where Sarah was. 7 month old Sarah was safely tucked away in her carseat/infant carrier, somewhere on the floor, and Leila insisted that she must be at the table with the rest of the family. So Sarah was moved, carseat and all, to the middle of the large Handelman dining room table, and for several years thereafter, Leila referred to Sarah as “my centerpiece”.
~Golda and Herb Stoltze
~close friend/”adopted family”, Lincolnwood
March 6th, 2024
Joe and Annabel were best friends with my grandparents, Will and Sarah Schecter. Leila and Neil took my wedding photos 50 years ago. They were the best and such wonderful people. I remember all the stories and laughter when we would all get together at Grandma’s house. My sincere sympathy…memories are a blessing.
~Barbara Lappe
~Grandparents were best friends, Westchester, il
March 6th, 2024
Sitting in the kitchen on Thorndale with Jacob, and mom, trying to figure a creative way to eat carrots.
~HOWARD ALLEN
~family friend, Miami, FL
Guest Book and Memories
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