Orna Bentor · 1954 - 2024

Maybe you saw Orna Bentor’s paintings evolve over time – from oil paintings of the rooftops of her native Jerusalem, her son Yinon’s childhood toys, and her daughter Anat doing cartwheels, to large acrylic landscapes and the flowers of Israel, especially her favorite, the delicate cyclamen. And later, collages incorporating the MRI scans used to diagnose her with multiple sclerosis in 1994, then smaller acrylics and alcohol ink paintings that she taught herself to make with her left hand when she could no longer use her dominant right hand. Or you might remember seeing her characteristic broad smile and beautiful curly hair as she zipped down King Street in downtown Boone on her motorized wheelchair, either independently or with her friends or family racing to keep up.

Orna Michal Moradov was born in Jerusalem on May 16, 1954 to Haim and Shoshana “Rose” Moradov (née Harari). She died in Boone, North Carolina, on July 22, 2024, surrounded by her husband Eli Bentor, her daughter Anat Bentor, and her son Yinon Bentor.

Orna met Eli when they were both 18, sparking a romance that would last 52 years. They lived together for several years in Kibbutz Misgav Am, a communal settlement in northern Israel, where she enjoyed working in an apple orchard and landscaping. She studied art education at Oranim College, with additional training in special education, and worked as an art teacher in a school for the deaf. They married in Jerusalem in 1979. She also lived in Bloomington, Indiana; Evanston, Illinois; and Rock Hill, South Carolina; where she took additional art classes. In 1996, the family moved to Boone, North Carolina, where Orna quickly made friends and joined ArtMix – a women’s artists group with whom she enjoyed meeting and exhibiting all over the region. Her paintings often express her longing for the natural beauty of her native Israel and her sense of separation from it. At the same time, she loved Boone and its beautiful surroundings.

While her health was a major struggle, Orna never allowed her disease to define her. She never complained or felt self-pity. She emerged from difficult hospitalizations with a broad smile and a renewed desire to engage in gardening, painting, and the simple joy of living.

Orna’s family wishes to thank the dedicated and caring people at Medi Home Health and Hospice and at Appalachian Regional Healthcare System.

A memorial service is planned for August. To see her artwork and learn about memorial plans, see ornabentor.com.