Obituary of Josephine Auerbach

JOSEPHINE "JO" EPSTEIN AUERBACH 1919-2009 Albany, New York AUERBACH Josephine "Jo" Epstein Auerbach, 89, died Saturday, December 5, 2009 after a long illness. Josephine was born December 15, 1919 in New York City. She married Abraham (Al) Auerbach on August 19, 1940 and the couple raised three children. They moved to Saddle Brook, New Jersey in 1948 where Jo worked in the couple's television store, served on the PTA, including as President; and volunteered for many groups, including serving as a Girl Scout Leader. After Al's death in 1974, Jo lived with her children and cared for her grandchildren. During this period, she achieved her dream of earning her college degree, graduating from Pace University with honors in 1981 with a bachelor's degree. Jo achieved another goal when she opened a small gourmet foods store called "Herbs and Spices" in Sabbath Day Point, NY on Lake George where she owned a summer home. Here she maintained a lush garden, indulged her love of cooking, reading and discussing books, doing needlepoint, sewing, crocheting and other crafts, working crossword puzzles and welcomed the many family members and friends who remained in her life until her death. Jo resided in Niskayuna, NY for 19 years. She was a member of Congregation Gates of Heaven, Schenectady, NY and active in the Sisterhood, doing everything from teaching the youth group to make hamantaschen and mass producing hundreds of blintzes and rugalah for events to acting in fundraising productions and creating fabric cherries for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival raffle. Jo served as an officer of the Sisterhood Book Group and was honored by B'nai B'rith with a Volunteer Award for her extraordinary service. When Jo became ill in 2005, she chose to enter Daughters of Sarah Nursing Center in Albany, NY. Her family thanks the wonderful staff at Daughters of Sarah for the care and kindness Jo received throughout her long stay there. In addition the love and special attention Margaret Bassi and Cynthia Anderson gave to Jo will always be remembered. Jo is survived by her children; Dr. Karl Auerbach (Marilyn deceased) Elaine Palmer, (John Peter); Michael Auerbach, (Ellen). Jo is survived by five grandchildren, Andrea Auerbach, Alisa Amor, Daniel Franklin (fiancée Jennifer Cossu), Dr. Marc Auerbach (wife Claudia) and Joshua Auerbach. Another granddaughter, Alison Auerbach- Barr, predeceased her. Jo has one great-grandchild, Rebecca Auerbach- Barr. In addition she is survived by her brother-in-law, Lee Gertner and many nieces and nephews, several of whom considered her a second mother. She will also be missed by the many children of friends who called her "Grandma". The funeral will be held at Congregation Gates of Heaven, 852 Ashmore Avenue; Schenectady, NY on Monday December 7, 2009 at 10:00am. (518-374-8173). Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery, Saddle Brook, NJ (877-843-7101). The family will be observing a period of mourning on Tuesday and Wednesday December 8 and 9 at the home of Michael and Ellen Auerbach, 848 Beech Drive, Niskayuna, NY (518-381-4432). In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to a special library fund at Congregation Gates of Heaven being established in Jo's memory, the Alison Auerbach- Barr Youth Scholarship Fund at Congregation Gates of Heaven or Daughters of Sarah Nursing Center, 180 Washington Ave. Ext; Albany, NY, 12203.