Henrietta Bessie Lebowitz

GLENS FALLS -- Henrietta Bessie (Klenet) Lebowitz passed away Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2006, after a long illness.

Henrietta was born in Brooklyn, on June 7, 1921. She was the child of Mollie (Kornetsky) Borlawsky (1898-1967) and Joseph Klinetsky (1890-ca.1963). Her parents and their families migrated to Brooklyn from Grodno, Russia (Ukraine), and Warsaw, Poland, respectively, during the early 20th century. Mollie and Joseph met and married shortly after World War I.

Henrietta grew up in the "melting pot" of America during the hardscrabble days of the 1920s and '30s. Her youth was one of ethnic neighborhoods, urban culture, and the occasional summer trip to "the country." She wanted to live in the country.

She savored reading, museums, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and her Uncle David's candy store. Her father taught her to play the violin, occasionally from the fire escape.

Henrietta liked books, flowers, music and pistachio nuts. She ate the whole jar.

After graduating from New Utrecht High School in 1939, Henrietta began working as a sales girl in a Manhattan department store. Prior to graduation, she changed her maiden name to Klenet.

During the summer of 1940, Henrietta moved to Glens Falls, where she married the late I. Charles "Itchy" Lebowitz (1912-1993), to whom she was introduced by a close high school friend, Lebowitz's niece.

In Glens Falls, Henrietta involved herself in a variety of community activities. She was an active member of the Sisterhood of Congregation Shaaray Tefila and a member of the board of the Glens Falls chapter of Hadassah.

During the years of her children's schooling, she actively participated in the Parent Teacher Associations at Broad Street School, Sanford Street School, Glens Falls Junior High School, and Glens Falls Senior High School. She held a number of PTA offices.

Among other organizations, Henrietta volunteered with the Southeastern Adirondack Chapter of the American Red Cross, the International Arts and Culture Association, and the Hyde Collection.

She enjoyed the arts and was talented in the needle crafts.

In 1968, Henrietta returned to school. She obtained an associate's degree from Adirondack Community College and made the Dean's List in 1968 and 1969. She then attended Skidmore College, graduating in 1972 with an English major and an Education minor. Afterwards, she attended graduate school at the State University of New York at Albany, where she studied English literature.

Besides her parents and husband, Henrietta was predeceased by her brother, Isidore Klinetsky (1926-1994), who went to sea at the age of 17 as a member of the Merchant Marine.

Henrietta strove to be the best homemaker and mother that she could be.

She is survived by three children: Dr. Michael E. Lebowitz and his wife, of New Rochelle; Dr. Edward A. Lebowitz and his wife, of Monte Sereno, Calif.; and Neil H. Lebowitz, of Glens Falls; four grandchildren: Stephen M. Lebowitz and wife, of Larchmont, N.Y., Jonathan G. Lebowitz, of Sunnyvale, Calif., David N. Lebowitz and his wife, of New York City; and Daniel J. Lebowitz and his wife, of San Francisco, Calif.; and two great-grandchildren, Andrew T. Lebowitz and Joshua M. Lebowitz, of Larchmont.

The Lebowitz family would like to express its appreciation to all of the many fine people affiliated with Fort Hudson Nursing Home and Glens Falls Hospital for all they did for Henrietta during her times of need.

A funeral service will be held at Sullivan-Minahan & Potter Funeral Home, 407 Bay Road, Queensbury, on Friday, March 3, at 11 a.m.

Interment will follow at the Congregation Shaaray Tefila Cemetery in West Glens Falls, near exit 18 of the Northway.

In lieu of flowers, the Lebowitz family requests that charitable donations be made to the Glens Falls Chapter of Hadassah, c/o Judy Korot, 62 Blind Rock Road, Queensbury, NY 12801; Skidmore College, 815 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866; Fort Hudson Nursing Home, 319 Broadway, Fort Edward, NY 12828, or the Glens Falls Hospital Foundation, 100 Park St., Glens Falls.