Avis H Levin

Avis H. Levin, age 83, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, January 20, 2009.   She was born on June 2, 1925, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, the daughter of Charles and Jean Ofstrock.   She was an excellent student and earned a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Massachusetts.   After graduation she went to work in a laboratory in Boston and it was there that she met her future husband Jacob J. Levin.   They fell in love immediately and he proposed marriage on their second date!   She accepted his proposal and they were happily married for fifty-five years until Jake's death on March 16, 2008.   While raising three children, Avis worked full-time in various departments on the campus of the University of Wisconsin -- Madison.   She was especially proud of her work in the Bacteriology Department laboratories of Drs. Winston Brill and Jack Pate.   She then went to work at UW Hospital in the Transplantation Service in the tissue typing lab under the watchful eyes of Dr. Folkert Belzer.   She finished her career with many years spent in the State Laboratory of Hygiene until her retirement at age 65.   Avis had a long and wonderful and fulfilling life shared with family and friends.   She had a special relationship with her husband Jake and suffered an enormous grief at the time of his passing.   She also had an immensely loving relationship with her grandson, Joey, who she always called ""my little sweetheart"".   She had many interests including oil painting, jogging, attending concerts and movies, and spending the holidays with family.   Avis is survived by three children, Debra Francis, Kenneth Ellis (Deborah) and Claire Brenda ( Wayne); sister, Sandra (David) and their children, Sheri, Chuck, Wendy, and Amy; and a grandson, Joey (son of Ken and Debby).   She will be greatly missed and remembered by all who knew and loved her.   Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 23, 2009 at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison, with Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman presiding.