Obituary of Gertrude Prager

Gertrude Prager (Fishman) Passed away on December 27, 2013, at the age of 98, after a brief illness. Predeceased by her parents, Annie and Solomon Fishman of Russia; husband, Morris Prager; son, Edward Prager; and sister, Edith Shaller. Survived by daughter, Sorina (David) Goldstein; son, Dr. Elliot (Sara) Prager; 9 grandchildren, Sharon (Akiva), Laura (Joshua), Benjamin (Caren), Joshua, Ilan (Ruchama), Ariel (Lauren), Raphael (Penina), Ami (Keren), & Shira (Yossi); 17 great-grandchildren, Ezra, Elisha, Avidan, Ayala, Eliana, Abigail, Zachary, Gabriella, Akiva, Tehilla, Yehuda, Maya, Adi, Maya, Tamar, Jonathon, & Yarden; sister, Lena Schneider; brother-in-law, Max Prager; many nieces and nephews; and many dear friends. Mrs. Prager was a devoted member of Congregation Agudat Achim of Schenectady, NY & Congregation Beth Sholom of Rochester. Her passion in life was for all things Jewish, such as music, history, education, Yiddish language & culture. She lived her life according to the highest precepts of her faith. She treated all people with the utmost respect, kindness, & concern. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. From 1933 - 1945, Mrs. Prager was employed by R.H. Macy & Co. of New York City as an assistant to the payroll division. In 1936, she married Morris Prager of Brooklyn, NY, and two children were born, Edward (in 1939) and Sorina (in 1945). In 1944, Morris and Gertrude moved to Amsterdam, NY and bought Leeds Apparel Shop. There, they had their third child, Elliot (in 1949). In 1951, the couple moved to Schenectady, NY, in search of higher Jewish education opportunities, and they joined Congregation Agudat Achim of Schenectady. In Schenectady, Mrs. Prager became involved with Hebrew education as a Hebrew literacy teacher. She also prepared adults for their Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. In addition, Mrs. Prager was involved in Jewish programming for Agudat Achim, and served on many other committees dealing with Jewish education. Mrs. Prager also found time to assist her husband in choral work with the synagogue's choir. From 1960 - 1965, Mrs. Prager worked for Terbush & Powell Insurance Co. in Schenectady, NY. From 1965 - 1979, she was employed by the New York State Department of Education as a clerk in the travel unit. In 1981, Mrs. Prager spent a year in Israel to celebrate her retirement. In 1983, she returned back to Schenectady and continued with the same interests in Agudat Achim that she had performed prior to leaving to Israel for a year. She also volunteered at the Daughters of Sarah Nursing Home in Albany, NY and served on the nursing home's Auxiliary Board until 2009. In 1999, her husband, Morris (zt"l), and son, Edward (zt"l) died. In 2009, Mrs. Prager relocated to Rochester, NY to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Dr. David & Sorina Goldstein. She became a member of Congregation Beth Sholom of Rochester. Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 30th 2013 at Congregation Agudat Achim 2117 Union Street in Schenectady at 1:00pm with interment to follow in the Agudat Achim Cemetery in Rotterdam, NY The family will be sitting Shiva in Rochester on TUESDAY to FRIDAY and continuing on SATURDAY evening to SUNDAY morning at 1881 Highland Avenue. There will be morning & evening Minyanim. Donations in Gertrude's memory may be made to Congregation Beth Sholom.