Thelma Reiter

Thelma Reiter, (née Tobe Thelma Kline), passed on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025. Thelma, who was 93 years of age, was born in NYC to Harry and Sari Kline on June 30th 1932. Her formative childhood was with her parents, Harry and Elaine (Elushe) and with her dear sister, Helen (since deceased), where they lived in Inwood, NYC. The majority of Thelma’s adult life was lived in Verona with her loving husband Bernard (Bernie) Reiter, since deceased. More recently, Thelma lived in the Daughters of Israel Skilled Nursing Facility in West Orange.

Thelma is also survived by daughters Sharon Reiter Lindberg and Marcy Linda Huey, their husbands, Jeffrey and Mark, as well as her sister-in-law Annette Friend. Thelma was the devoted Grandmother to Eric, Jason, Melissa and Arielle.

Thelma’s extended family includes Eric’s wife Doni Zasloff, their daughter Willow, and children Millie and Xander. Jason and his wife Rebecca, have two children, Blake and Jackson. Melissa and her husband Al also have two children, Anthony & Frankie. All of the grandchildren loved being with Thelma.

Thelma spent her early years in Inwood growing up in an Orthodox Jewish environment and home with the extended Kline Family in the same location. With a passion for music, she went to the High School of Music and Art, and then subsequently graduated from Hunter College with a BA in Education and later enhanced her education in Early Childhood at Montclair State University. Besides bringing up her two girls and tending to the home in Verona, in her professional life Thelma taught nursery school in Temple Shalom of West Essex in Cedar Grove, as well as in Congregation Agudath Israel in Caldwell. She also taught Sunday School in the Jewish Community Center of Verona for many years.

Over the years, Thelma grew to love Mahjong & Bridge, that she enjoyed often with her local circle of good friends. Both Thelma and her husband Bernie were avid readers and frequented the Verona Public Library. They also loved to travel together, particularly in Europe. But most of all - Thelma just loved her family and spending time with her children and her grandchildren. We all loved her back tremendously.

We will all miss ‘Gramma’ Thelma / Mom immensely. Her memory will be a blessing that we will cherish forever.

The family will be receiving guests at Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel, located at 68 Old Short Hills Road, Livingston, New Jersey, 07039, on November 30, 2025, from 12:15 pm to 12:45 pm.

The funeral service will follow at the same location on November 30, 2025, starting at 1:00 pm officiated by Rabbi Daniel Cohen of Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel of South Orange.

The burial will take place at King Solomon Memorial Park, located at 550 Dwasline Road, Clifton, New Jersey, 07012, on November 30, 2025, at 2:30 pm.

Contributions in Thelma Reiter’s memory can be made to:

United Jewish Appeal (UJA)

The family will be sitting shiva at the home of Sharon and Jeffrey in South Orange on Monday from 4 pm to 8 pm with Minyan service at 7 pm.