Lena Maisel was born in Rozin, Russia on December 2, 1877. In or around 1900, she married Abraham Harry Berger, who had been born on October 2, 1875, in Visne, Minsk, Russia. He came to the United States in 1903, and she came in 1906, with Nathan.

In New York, Harry was a cutter of men's clothing, who did very well. At times when the average salary was $12 per week, he was able to make $50. The family lived at 60 Hester Street on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. 60 Hester Street was a 5 story building located across from P.S. 482. There was a balcony across the top floor and fire escapes that were used for sleeping during the hot summers. Each apartment had its own pull chain toilet.

Max Maisel convinced them to move to Mobile in 1910, after the birth of Morris, and helped get them started in the grocery business at Davis Avenue, between Franklin and Hamilton Streets on the North side ( in a location which later became Lovett's Funeral Home). After approximately 9 months in Moible, they decided to move back to New York, where they took Moishe Maisel's apartment at 12 Pike Street since he was moving to Bayside, Long Island.

In 1914, there was a general strike in New York, and in 1915, after the birth of Annie, the Bergers again moved to Mobile, this time permanently. They bought a grocery at Hamilton and Earle from a Mr. Cohen (who had earlier bought the grocery from Hyman Ripps).

The Bergers always lived close to the synagogue. They lived on Warren Street when the synagogue was on Warren and Conti, and they moved to Houston Street when the synagogue moved to 1717 Dauphin Street in 1955.