Obituary of Frances Buratt

FRANCES APPLEMAN BURATT 1918-2010 BURATT, FRANCES APPLEMAN, New York City. Frances "Fagie" Buratt died January 3, 2010 at the age of 92. She was born February 27, 1918 in Brooklyn, N.Y Mourned by her daughters Tobie (Alan) Dorn of Delmar, NY and Tama (Sy) Lukin of NYC, grandchildren Rebecca Dorn, Jonathan (Christina) Dorn, Keri (Thomas) Page, and Dana (Merideth) Lukin, and great grandchildren Violet, William and Hannah. Also many cousins, nieces and nephews, and dear friends whose special closeness has spanned a lifetime. Fagie, was the family historian and the one who kept contact with everyone, across generations and geography. Fagie valued the connections with friends and family, and her strong bonds spanned decades and oceans. She loved to celebrate each holiday and life event with her family, and was the glue that kept us together despite increasing physical distances. Fran continued to keep up with cousins, nieces and nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews living across the country, childhood friends from her early years in Brooklyn, and special friends and relatives from England. She was an intensely bright, tenacious, and resourceful person who survived the loss of the love of her life, Bill, by holding her family and friends closer, and becoming a lifeblood of her community. Fagie was always enthusiastic and invested in all she undertook. Her interests and talents were myriad and diverse. In her earlier years she taught 5th graders the fine art of critical thinking; later her creativity led her to art education while engaged in her own artistic pursuits. She embraced her Judaism with fervor, wanting to educate her peers and nurture their understanding and appreciation of Jewish history and language, culture and continuity throughout her life. Her strong commitment to volunteerism and charity reflected her life long expression of a key tenet of her faith, Tikon Olam, repairing the world. A life member of Hadassah, she was chapter president when living in Cambria Heights, and later was honored by her local Woodmere chapter as Humanitarian of the Year in 2000. She was active in the 5 Town Jewish Council volunteering in many capacities, and creating the William D. Buratt Judaica Collection, at the Peninsula Public Library, following his passing in 1983. Frances served as a trustee for the Public Library. She was active in Temple Beth El in Woodmere, where she participated fully in celebrating every holiday until the time of her devastating stroke in July 2007. Frances was the "J" in the Woodmere Chapter of National Council of Jewish Women, serving in roles from Vice President of Public Affairs, Program Chair, Coordinator of Lecture Series and Trips, Shabbat Dinner and Jewish Life Institute Chair, and committee for Women's Seder and Advocacy. She initiated the Annual Yiddish Film Festival with the Peninsula Public Library. Always animated and effervescent, Frances' love of the dramatic made her an excellent story teller and entertainer. A witty, feisty, creative and tremendously competent person, Frances' life force energized us all. The period of mourning will be observed on Tuesday - Thursday January 5-7 from 4-7 p.m. Minyan will be held at 7:00 pm on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and 6:30 PM on Thursday evening at the residence of Tobie and Alan Dorn, 6 Wedge Road in Delmar, N.Y. Donations in her memory may be made to Hadassah or Congregation Ohav Shalom.