Audrey Shayna Wittenberg

Audrey Wittenberg, 87, passed away peacefully on August 20, 2025, after a long and courageous journey with Alzheimer’s disease.

Audrey was born in Syracuse, New York, on March 31, 1938, to Max and Bessie Cohen and grew up in Denver, Colorado. She spent much of her adult life in Detroit before later living in South Florida and ultimately settling in Tampa.

Audrey’s life was defined by resilience, creativity, and community. In the 1960s, she raised her two sons, Joel and Ken, as a single mother — without a college degree, without financial help, and with sheer grit. She built a village of friends who became like family and who supported her throughout her life.

In 1973, she married Stephen Wittenberg, her devoted husband of 52 years, whose unconditional love and steadiness shaped a joyful new chapter. Together they welcomed their daughter, Lauren, and built a strong, loving partnership that grew even deeper through life’s later challenges.

Audrey was an artist at heart. She expressed her creativity through painting, jewelry-making, and especially ceramics. For the past 25 years, almost anyone who crossed her path left with an “Original Audrey” vase, piece of jewelry, or artwork — reminders of her generosity and boundless creativity.

Audrey was also a survivor. After facing breast cancer, she not only persevered but gave back, serving as president of her local cancer charity and raising significant funds for research. She volunteered her time on a crisis line for suicide and trauma, offering counsel, empathy, and hope to people she had never met.

And she did it all with a signature mix of determination and humor. She was never afraid to push back, even famously wielding her husband’s legal stationery to make sure she and her family got what they deserved — teaching her children to speak up, advocate for themselves, and never settle for “no.”

She is survived by her husband Stephen; her children Joel (Sharon), Ken (Jodi), and Lauren (Charles); her grandchildren, Max, Anna, Emily, Rachel  Leah, Eli, Sylvi, Rachel, and Ben; and her sister Eleanor. She was predeceased by her sister Eileen.

Audrey will be remembered for her grit, determination, creativity, humor, and fierce love of family — qualities that live on in her children and grandchildren, each of whom is stubbornly successful and tough as nails.

A graveside service will be held at Gan Shalom Cemetery in Lutz on August 22, 2025. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to USF Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute.

Zichrona livracha — may her memory be a blessing.

For the donations:

The family asks that gifts be directed to the USF Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute.

Checks should be made out to "USF Foundation, Inc." and mailed to

USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Center and Research Institute

Attn. Katie Dorsey Nealon

4202 East Fowler Avenue, ALC 100

Tampa FL 33620

Or you may make a gift online:

Http://usf.to/byrd