Bertha was born on October 10, 1936, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Mary (nee Alansky) and Harry Koslow and spent her early years in New Castle, Pennsylvania. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Bernice Weinberger. She married Bernard Smilowitz, a physicist, in 1962, and together they raised their family on Long Island, NY. Following Bernard’s untimely passing in 1991, Bertha found love again, marrying Murray Korman in 1997. After Murray’s death in 2006, Bertha enjoyed a close companionship with Shelly Berman.
A woman of immense strength and resilience, Bertha lived a life marked by her love for family, education, and caring for others. She earned multiple degrees while raising her children, including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Pittsburgh (1962), a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from SUNY Stony Brook (1974), and a Master of Science in Nursing from CUNY Hunter College (1981).
Throughout her career, Bertha was a dedicated psychiatric nurse and crisis counselor, serving both private and state hospitals, and making a profound impact on the lives of countless individuals in her care. Bertha had a deep love for travel and adventure, and she explored the world, eager to learn and experience new cultures. Her generosity and caring nature were evident throughout her life, taking in family members, friends and community in need of support. She faced life’s challenges with a resilient spirit, and despite the loss of two husbands and a battle with breast cancer, she remained a joyful and loving force to all who knew her.
Bertha is survived by her three children, twin daughters Elissa Darnell (Michael) and Laura Smilowitz (Daniel); son Jonathan Smilowitz; and her cherished grandchildren, Benjamin Darnell, Jacob Darnell, Joshua Shevitz, and Lily Shevitz. In the words of her long-time friend, Gail: "When I think of Bertha, my first impression is that of joy and a zest for living. She had a big, beautiful smile that really did light up a room. And she spread that joy to all those around her. Life was always more exciting with her in the room. I will miss her.” Bertha's passing leaves a deep void in the hearts of all who knew her, but her legacy of love, laughter, and unwavering strength will live on in all of us. May her memory be a blessing.
A graveside service will be held at 1:00PM on Friday, February 28, 2025, at Palm Eastern Cemetery, 7600 S. Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kiva Microloans which provides microloans to help those in underserved communities establish their own businesses https://www.kiva.org/. King David Memorial Chapel of Las Vegas, NV handled the arrangements.
