Bernice Libby Chefitz

Bernice Chefitz passed away peacefully on July 19, 2025. She was 94 years old.

Bernice was born in Boston, Massachusetts, January 18, 1931, to Harry and Sarah Kahn. She attended Boston Girls Latin, as well as Hebrew school. In 1950, she married Melvin Chefitz, z”l, also of Boston. She had six children: Joel, z”l, (married to Sharon Garfinkel), Rachel, z”l, (married to Stanley Kurtz, z”l), David, z”l, (married to Janie Kornblau), Allen (married to Elisa Long), Harry (married to Dalya Leviant), and Daniel (married to Devorah Goldman). She was very proud that all her children attended Jewish schools.

Bernice was always volunteering for Jewish causes. She was president of numerous organizations, and is especially proud of her work with Maimonides School in Brookline, Massachusetts, AMIT, the Boston Chevra Kadisha (Jewish burial society), and every synagogue she ever attended, from Congregation Beth El in Newton, Massachusetts, to Congregation Ahavas Achim in Highland Park, New Jersey.

In the 1970’s, she worked on behalf of Soviet Jews immigrating to this country. Later, she worked on publicizing the plight of and assisting Ethiopian Jews trying to escape to Israel through her work with AMIT.

In 1994, Bernice and Mel moved to Highland Park, New Jersey, where Bernice immediately joined the Chevra Kadisha, and she worked tirelessly to have it reach the highest standards, as she became the head of the women’s branch of the Chevra. She instituted new standards and trained many women in this most holy work.

In addition to her six children, Bernice had 20 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren, all of whom she was devoted to helping raise. She shared her love of art, music, nature, and especially Israeli dancing with her family, and she continued to dance with the younger generations well into her eighties.