Mildred S. Altman
July 1, 1922 – February 3, 2021
ALBANY, NY February 3, 2021 -- Mildred Altman nee Shapiro – whose life of love, honor, loyalty and service to beloved people and causes, spanned more than 98 and one-half years – passed peacefully in her sleep this morning in Albany, NY.
In a life characterized by the words of the “Eshet Chayyil - Proverbs 31,” Mildred was truly, “a woman of valor whose worth was far above jewels…”
“Robed in strength and dignity,” Mildred “opened her mouth with wisdom” and “her tongue was guided by kindness.”
Dedicated to her family…and friends that were as dear as family, Mildred never once turned away from a loved one in need, no matter how personally painful it might be for her. That included daily care-giving to those of blessed memory whose final journey would otherwise have been far more difficult and rocky.
A proud past President of the Bellerose Hadassah chapter in Queens, New York, Mildred – along with her husband (and Hadassah Associate life-member) Arthur, of blessed memory – were dedicated to the creation, survival and prosperity of the State of Israel, having visited the Jewish homeland several times in the course of their nearly 70-year marriage. They even celebrated a wedding anniversary after trekking to the heights of Masada.
Mildred’s legacy includes a passion for cooking, which she viewed with pleasure as a testament to her love for others. The continuation of that loving legacy –keeping recipes and traditions alive – now thankfully extends to the third generation.
Mildred is survived by her sons Frederick of Albany, NY and Richard of Swan Lake, NY; grandchildren Stephen, Eric, Gregory and David; niece Roslyn Levinson and husband Donald and family; niece Karen Ashkenase, husband Donald and family; niece Phyllis Richland and husband Stewart and family; niece Renee Aronowitz and husband Steve and family; nephew Stone Altman and wife Maya Smith; nephew Steven Sucher and family; nephew Michael Schwartz and wife Kate and family and, dear, lifelong-friend Cynthia Lichtenstein and family.
Mildred is pre-deceased by her loving husband Arthur, whose dedication, commitment and respect for her was boundless and characterized by the Hebrew words of the “Song of Solomon 6:3,” that he had crafted into a bracelet in tribute to her. Those words translate to English as: “I am for my beloved and my beloved is for me.”
Mildred is also pre-deceased by her brother Fred; Mother Rose and Father Samuel Shapiro, and Father-In-Law and Mother-In-Law Joseph and Rachel Altman.
Despite a sickly childhood in the Bronx, Mildred outlived all of her close peers including her best friend and sister-in-law Edith and brother-in-law Abe Altman; her sister Sylvia and brother-in-law Bob Minskoff; her sister in-law and brother-in-law Midge (Esther) and Jerry Sucher, and sister-in-law and brother-in law Clara and Jack Schwartz. Mildred’s dearly departed also includes niece April Fisher; niece Ronni Altman Cintron, and grand nephew Harold Richland.
Final arrangements will be organized responsibly in accordance with social distancing and public health requirements as Mildred would have wanted. A brief and small funeral service will take place on Friday, February 5th in Great Neck, NY followed by a graveside internment ceremony at Mount Ararat Cemetery in Farmingdale, Long Island.
A Memorial/Celebration of Mildred’s life will be scheduled at a safe time to be determined, hopefully during the summer months.
Quoting again from the “Eshet Chayil ”Wherever people gather, her deeds speak her praise.”
###
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Mildred S. Altman, please visit our floral store.