Iris Dorothy Charms

It is with a heavy heart that we announce that Iris Charms passed away after a brief illness on January 14, 2026 at the age of 91. She was born in Bronx, New York on October 19, 1934 to Esther and Irving Schiffman. After graduating from high school, Iris attended Brooklyn College, which so impressed her younger brother Saul, that he proudly wore her college logo T-shirt.

In a career spanning over 45 years, Iris rose through the ranks at Octagon Process Inc., a New Jersey chemical company, to become Vice President, a position she was very proud of and from which she retired at age 79.

Iris was a natural performer and sang and danced her way to leading roles in many community theater productions, including while very pregnant with her youngest child. She was an active member and youth group leader at the Teaneck Jewish Community Center and her children have fond memories of the many hours spent swimming, roller skating and hanging out at the Center. Iris was also a talented artist and enjoyed creating works of art using various mediums which she proudly displayed at her home and gifted to her children and grandchildren.

A lifelong Yankees and Giants fan, she proudly wore their jerseys and cheered the teams on at games and on television, even when they disappointed her.

The most important thing in Iris’s life was her family, whom she loved dearly. She is survived by her son Mitchell Leo and partner Ana Castelon, daughter Jamie Leo, daughter and son-in-law Gail and Steven Nachimson, step daughter Lynn Hall and brother and sister-in-law Saul and Greta Schiffman, grandchildren Siri Nin and partner Emily McGlamery, Sherrie and Jack Holder, Evan Nachimson, Nicole Giordano, Seth Nachimson and Elizabeth Han, Mia Aish, and great grandchildren Daniel Gibson, Lilah, Evelyn and Stephanie Holder, and many beloved nieces, nephews and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her husbands Robert Leo and Saul Charms.

The funeral will be held at Gutterman Musicant Jewish Funeral Directors, 402 Park Street Hackensack, NJ 07601, on Friday January 16, 2026 at 9:30 am. Interment will follow at Cedar Park Cemetery, 735 Forest Ave, Paramus, NJ 07652.

Virtual service information can be found on the funeral home website: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82163726843 Webinar ID: 821 6372 6843.

Donations in Iris’ memory may be made to Hawthorne Foundation Development Corporation,

5 Bradhurst Avenue, Hawthorne, NY 10532 or at www.hawthornefoundation.org.