Edith Selma (Altman) Kleger

Edith Selma (Altman) Kleger of Sharon, previously of Dartmouth, and Boynton Beach, FL, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 99 years of age. Loving wife of the late Nathaniel Kleger. Daughter of the late Sarah (Shief) and Julius Altman. Beloved mother of Sara Lee Fox and her partner Scott Lite of Sharon, MA; Joel Kleger and his wife Joan of Andover, MA; and Stanley Kleger and wife Leesa of New York City. Cherished grandmother of Matthew Fox and his wife Arielle, Michael Fox and his wife Christina James, Adam Kleger, Michelle Kleger and her husband Ben Bokor, and Mackenzie Kleger. Great-grandmother of Isaac Kleger. Friend of her caretaker later in life, Lisa White. Edith was the sister of the late Bessie Sarin, May Lucove, and Lillian Sher.

Edith was born in New Bedford, MA on May 14, 1926. Edith and Nathaniel, her dear and previously departed husband, were married for over 60 years and were the center of a warm extended family and sprawling circle of friends in Dartmouth, MA and Boynton Beach, FL.

She cared deeply about education, getting her bachelor’s degree later in life from Southeastern Massachusetts University, now known as University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and The Schuster-Martin School of the Drama. Edith loved theater and music and was committed to her community, whether her hometown synagogue of Tifereth Israel in New Bedford, through volunteering with local schools in Florida, or brightening the atmosphere in her senior living communities of Orchard Cove and CareOne in her later years.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Graveside Service on Tuesday, March 3rd at 2:00 PM at Plainville Cemetery, 1400 Old Plainville Road, New Bedford, MA. Shiva will be held at the residences of Sara Fox on Tuesday 7pm - 9pm and on Wednesday 10am-2pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Edith’s name, may be made to Tifereth Israel Congregation at www.tinewbedford.org or the United Way of Greater New Bedford at https://unitedwayofgnb.org/ or the United Way of Palm Beach County at https://unitedwaypbc.org/