Helen Friedman passed away at home on February 12 at the age of 97. She was the daughter of Golda and Joseph Rosenkrantz and spent most of her life in the Bronx in New York until moving to Livingston, New Jersey about 27 years ago.
She married Oscar Friedman in 1947. After the untimely death of her husband, Helen was widowed at the age of 33 and was a single mother of three children, Stephen, Alan, and Rise. Helen worked as a secretary during the day, while getting a bachelor of arts from Baruch College at night and later a master’s degree from NYU. She taught secretarial studies at Jane Addams High School in the Bronx and Julia Richmond High School in Manhattan, and then computer keyboarding at Bronx Community College. Although her family hoped she would retire, she commuted from Livingston to Bronx Community College using public transportation for many years. She was an active chorus member of Temple Emanu-El in Livingston and Temple Sinai in Summit.
Helen was predeceased by her brother, Louis Rosenkrantz and is survived by her sister, Ethel Simon. She is survived by her children: Stephen (Joanne), Alan (Maya Memling) and Rise (Robert Levine). Helen was a very proud grandmother of six: Joy Friedman (Jason Macbeth), Joseph Friedman (Allison), Charles Friedman (Allie Schmidt), Lauren Levine (Joseph Kozole), Allyson Levine (James Gambino) and David Levine (Siobhan McQueen). She was blessed to live to see ten great grandchildren: Nolan and Shane Macbeth, Elizabeth and Claire Friedman, Asher and Phoebe Friedman, Madeline and Grace Kozole, Jacob Gambino and Oscar Levine. Helen is survived by her friend, Martin Goldberg. We love you infinity to the infinite power, Helen.
In memory, contributions may be sent to the Yiddish Book Center, Amherst, Massachusetts, at yiddishbookcenter. org.
