Harriet Schanen

Harriet was born March 11, 1924 in Bronx, NY. She was predeceased by the love of her life, her husband of 72 years, Nathan Schanen, and her dear son Richard. She is survived by daughter Norlyn Kessler and her husband Dennis, son Mitchell Schanen and his wife Debra, daughter-in-law Kerri Schanen, brother Lenny Kanarick and his wife Barbara, sister Charlotte Rubin and her husband Alvin, and brother Robert Kanarick and his wife Roberta. She is also survived by her grandchildren Scott Kessler and his wife Melissa, Todd Kessler, Glenn Kessler, Joshua Schanen, Jordan Schanen and his wife Vanessa, Drew Schanen, Leah Schanen, and Mark Schanen.

Harriet was born and raised in the Bronx; a brilliant student, she graduated from high school at the age of 16. She married Nathan before he was deployed for service in WWII and after his return they moved to Linden, NJ to raise their family. Harriet took great pride in being a working woman: first as a young secretary, then as an interior designer, and later as a successful real estate agent. She enjoyed completing a difficult crossword puzzle or playing double’s tennis. An avid traveler, Harriet spent time vacationing in Europe, St. Maarten, New Hampshire, Arizona and in her later years exploring new places through the voracious reading of novels with foreign settings, always with a map nearby. She was passionate about politics and supported a wide range of charitable institutions.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, March 3 at 1pm at the Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels, 44 Wilson Avenue, Manalapan. Interment will immediately follow at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Memorial Sloan-Kettering in memory of Harriet Schanen.

The family will sit shiva Tuesday through Thursday from 7-9pm with services at 8pm at the home of Norlyn and Dennis Kessler at 1039 Lovell Place, North Brunswick, NJ.