Obituary of Eleanor Finkelstein

Eleanor [née Schwartz] Finkelstein passed away peacefully at the age of 97 on February 24th, 2017, in the presence of family members in Bedford, Massachusetts. Eleanor was born in what was then Franklin Furnace, New Jersey on April 24, 1919, the daughter of Anna and Samuel Schwartz. Soon after her birth, her family moved to Morristown, New Jersey, where she was raised. Eleanor graduated from Morristown High School, received her B.A from the College of St. Elizabeth in Morristown, and a Master’s degree in education from Hunter College in New York City. Eleanor married Arthur Finkelstein in 1941. They were a loving and devoted couple until his passing in 1993. Eleanor and Arthur lived for a number of years in the Bronx until moving to Bayside, Queens in 1957. Eleanor later moved to Massachusetts to be close to her many family members there. Eleanor devoted her life to her family and to helping others. For many years, she taught at the Wayside School for girls, run by the Salvation Army, in Nassau County, New York. She was a lifelong Salvation Army volunteer, once being named Volunteer of the Year in Nassau County. Eleanor later served for many years as a guidance counselor at John Bowne High School in Queens, NY. Eleanor loved to travel, and ultimately fulfilled her lifelong dream of visiting the Great Wall of China, and Hungary—the birthplace of her parents—as well as several other countries. Eleanor was an active member of the Jewish community in all the places she resided, and raised her family in the traditions of her faith. Eleanor loved the wonders of nature, and would delight in sharing with family members the joy of a special moon, rainbow or sunset. She is survived by children Joan Hyde, Mark Finkelstein, Sandy and husband Gary Simon, her sister Adele Greenberg, grandchildren Rebecca Cavallaro (Brian), Samantha Hyde, Martine Hyde Onufrychuk (Jacob), Corey Salo (Jamie) and Lindsay Roberts (Kyle), great-grandchildren Amelie and Maxine Cavallaro , Ronan Onufrychuk and Miriam Salo, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents Samuel and Anna Schwartz, her husband Arthur and her sister Florence Farhy. A service will be held at the Dangler Funeral Home, 600 Speedwell Avenue, Morris Plains, New Jersey on Sunday, February 26, 2017 at 1:00pm, with burial to follow in the family plot at the Beth Israel Cemetery in Cedar Knolls, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Salvation Army, the College of St. Elizabeth, Morristown, or the Jewish Federation.