Obituary of Harriet Kaufman

Harriet Kaufman, 85 Monticello, NY & Tamarac, FL Harriet Kaufman, who spent most of her adult life in Monticello, NY, passed away peacefully at University Hospital in Tamarac, FL, on January 12, 2009 surrounded by loving members of her family and her aide, Iris O'Conner, a valued friend and companion for nearly two years. She was 85 years old. Born in Brooklyn, NY, the eldest of three children of Abraham and Ethel Klein, she met her husband to be, Irving, shortly after graduating from New Utrecht High School. After their marriage in 1942, the young newlyweds moved to the "country" and took up residence in the "main house" on the farm of her in-laws, Abe and Minnie Kaufman. Years later, the property would become the very modern Kaufman's Hillway View Cottages,but in 1942, for a girl from Brooklyn, it was nothing short of culture shock. Harriet thrived, however, and just prior to the end of WWII, she gave birth to Lewis, and by 1951, two more sons had arrived, Stewart and Jeffrey. Alternating between Motherhood and her part time work in the grocery business of her husband and brother- in-law David, Harriet excelled at both endeavors. In 1959 when Irving opened Kaufman's TV & Appliances on Broadway in Monticello, she became the full time receptionist, salesperson and bookkeeper. And she maintained that work ethic until the business was sold in 1993. Despite working full time, she gave tireless effort to her cherished Jewish organizations, the B'nai B'rith, Hadassah and the Sisterhood of the Landfield Ave. Synagogue. And of course, she remained keenly interested in the educational progress of her children, attending parent conferences and extra curricular events,never ceasing to instill within them the love she had for learning. Harriet Kaufman was a gifted writer, whose poetry further brightened the celebrations for many of her friends and relatives. She was a bright, shining light wherever she went and with whomever she met. She is survived by her son Lewis and daughter-in-law Susan, of Kiamesha Lake; her son Jeffrey and daughter-in-law Loretta of Belford, NJ; her grandsons Stewart, of Hillsborough, NJ, Marc, of Tokyo, Japan and Tim, of Raritan, NJ; her great grandson Ian Kaufman; her sister Janice Sharfman; her brother Morton Klein and sister-in-law Kathy; her brothers and sisters-in-law David and Shirley Kaufman; Norman and Phyllis Kaufman; and Esther Bohrer; as well as many nieces, nephews and loving relatives and friends. She was predeceased by her husband Irving, her son Stewart, and her parents Abe and Ethel. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 15 at 1:00pm at the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home, 388 Broadway in Monticello with Rabbi Ben Zion Chanowitz officiating. Burial will follow at the Landfield Ave. Synagogue Cemetery in Monticello. The family will be sitting Shiva at the home of Lewis Kaufman in Kiamesha Lake, NY. Memorial contributions can be made to the Landfield Ave. Synagogue, Monticello, NY. Arrangements are under the direction of the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home of Monticello. For additional information please visit www.josephngarlickfuneralhome.com