Obituary of Elaine Katzoff

Elaine Katzoff, age 90, a long-time resident of Lake Huntington, passed away peacefully Friday, November 8, 2013 at her home, surrounded by her family and loved ones. The daughter of Sol and Rose Werner, she was born and raised in Peekskill, New York. Mrs. Katzoff was a graduate of Cortland State University. After graduation, she moved to the area where she became the first female physical education teacher in Jeffersonville, New York, and where she met her late husband Morris Katzoff. After starting a family in the Washington, D.C. area, she and Morris returned to Lake Huntington where they owned and operated Katzoff’s General Store for 15 years, a true pleasure to them both. Elaine was proudly the Postmaster of the Lake Huntington Post Office for nearly 25 years, retiring in 1992. She was an organizer and founding member of the Cochecton Volunteer Ambulance Corps. She was a long-time member of the Cochecton Women’s Club, and a volunteer with the Meals-on-Wheels program through the Sullivan County Office for the Aging. Following the passing of her late husband, she assumed the responsibilities as matriarch of the family, watching over her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She leaves behind her son, Howard Katzoff and his wife Ann of Clarksville, Maryland; her daughters, Joanne Kraack and husband Ronald of Lake Huntington, and Barbara Katzoff and partner Reuven Harris and sons Max and Jackson of California; sister Rhoda Brozdowski and her husband Bill of Connecticut, brother-in-law Herbert Katzoff and his wife Doris of Syracuse; seven grandchildren, Jason Kraack and his wife Wendy, Jenna Sayers and her husband Jeff, Derin Kraack and his wife Alicia, Trisha Kraack and her fiancé Ben, Lacey and Evan Kraack, and Alexandra Katzoff; seven angels, her great grandchildren Derek, Stefanie, Travis, Morgan and Garrett Kraack, Hannah and Ryan Sayers; and beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. She was predeceased by her husband Morris Katzoff and daughter Lynne Kraack. Funeral Services will be held at 11 A.M. on Monday, November 11th at Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home,388 Broadway, Monticello. Rabbi Endre Stamler will officiate. Friends and relatives are also invited to attend the burial immediately following the services at the Jeffersonville Synagogue Cemetery, Route 52, Jeffersonville. The family wants to express its deep appreciation to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties, and the wonderful nurses and staff who made possible Elaine’s wish to remain in her home, surrounded by her family, for the closing weeks of this part of her journey. She truly enjoyed her days, savoring favorite meals and treats, reviving her passion for needlepoint and reading, and most of all relishing the time spent with family, friends and puppy dogs too. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Lynne Kraack Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Sullivan West Central School, 6604 State Route 52, Lake Huntington, N.Y. 12752, or the Cochecton Volunteer Ambulance Corps, P.O. Box 4, Lake Huntington, N.Y. 12752. Arrangements were made by Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home, Monticello.