Irma (Friedlander) Lesser
d. August 16, 2014
Irma Lesser, a proud graduate of PS 160, New Utrecht High School and Baruch College of the City College of New York, died peacefully on August 16, 2014, after battling cancer for many years. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she lived briefly in Lansing, Michigan as a newlywed with her late husband, Dr. William Lesser. In 1962 they moved to Litchfield, CT. and soon thereafter began working on a Master’s Degree in School Psychology. For most of her adult life Irma worked in the Plymouth - Terryville School System.
Irma loved living in rural Connecticut where she played bridge, worked in her garden, had many wonderful friends, and spent time with her late brother and sister-in-law, Malvin and Frances Friedlander. She was elected twice to serve on the Litchfield Board of Finance and also supported many progressive causes. She was an active member of the Greater Washington Coalition for Jewish Life and frequently attended Beth El Synagogue of Torrington.
She loved to visit her children in New York City and Atlanta and to speak with her grandchildren at Sarah Lawrence College and at Brown University. Irma enjoyed reading and watching movies and eagerly discussed both with her family and friends. She is survived by her children, Suzanne Lesser, Peter Lesser and his wife Susan Ades, and Jeffrey Lesser and his wife Eliana Lesser; her grandchildren Gabriel, Aron, Max and Emma, and her sister, Lois Eitelberg and her husband Jerry.
Funeral services will be held at the Beth El Synagogue, 124 Litchfield St, Torrington, CT 06790 at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 18, 2014, followed by burial at the Farband Jewish Cemetery in Morris.
Her family will sit shiva at 7 Brook Hill Road, Litchfield, on Monday, August 18 th from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Tuesday, August 19 th , Wednesday, August 20 th , and Thursday, August 21 st from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven’s Closer to Free program: Closer to Free, P.O. Box 7611, New Haven, CT 06519-0611 or http://giveclosertofree.org/
Condolences may be sent to the Lesser family by visiting www.cookfuneralhomect.com