Rebecca Gelberg

REBECCA GELBERG
Rebecca Gelberg, 90, died of pneumonia on September 21, 2008 at Robert Packer Hospital surrounded by her loving family.
She was born in New York City on June 5, 1918, the eldest child of Gedalia and Esther Gampel Polakewitz. She was a 1936 graduate of New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn. Her studies at City College were cut short by the economic realities presented by the Depression. She worked as a full charge bookkeeper in Manhattan, first at A. Gampel Millinery Supplies and later at Midtown Manufacturing, retiring from the latter in 1976.
Rebecca's joy in life derived from the family she created with her husband Milton, whom she married in December 1945. Their children, Harris and Denise, were the focus of their efforts to build a good life - and a life that offered their children more opportunities than had been open to them. Education was highly esteemed in their home, as was lively debate on a wide range of topics, particularly controversial political issues of the day.
In 1981 Rebecca and Milton moved from Brooklyn to the Belle Sherman area of Ithaca and never looked back. Rebecca enjoyed everything about her life in Ithaca and often said that life in the big city was "overrated." When Milton died in 2004 she moved to McGraw House. The wonderful McGraw community helped her begin a whole new chapter in her life.
Over her long life Rebecca faced many challenges, challenges that would have defeated a less determined, courageous person. Perhaps her most noted victory was "dropping out" of hospice in April 2005. Her doctors often joked that she had made liars of them all. She lived the last 3 ½ years of her life independently, and with the joy of someone who had come face to face with death and yet survived. To the very last she was dedicated to enjoying this second chance at life.
Rebecca was predeceased by her parents and her three sisters: Jean, Frieda, and Blanche. She is survived by the family who cherished her - her son and daughter-in-law Harris and Bernice Gelberg of Santa Barbara, California, her daughter and son-in-law Denise Gelberg and Charles Wilson of Ithaca, New York, and her adored grandchildren: Grant and Maureen Eagle Gelberg of Alhambra, California, Laura Gelberg of San Francisco, California, and Elsa Wilson of Brighton, Massachusetts. She is also survived by the Wilson family who embraced her as one of their own.
Funeral services for Rebecca will be held at Bangs Funeral home at 2 PM on Tuesday, September 23, 2008. Her family will sit shiva on Wednesday, September 24th at 654 Fish Road, Ithaca, the home of her daughter and son-in-law. Donations in her memory can be made to her last and much enjoyed home, McGraw House, 221 South Geneva Street, Ithaca, New York.
Rebecca's family wishes to express its gratitude for the sterling efforts of the doctors, nurses, and staff of Robert Packer Hospital who ministered to her both with great skill and compassion in the last days of her life.
When reflecting on her 90 years just a few days before her final illness she declared, "I've had the most beautiful ride!" Those who were lucky enough to have been touched by Rebecca's intelligence, enthusiasm, and optimism take solace in her assessment of a life well lived.