With full but broken hearts, we say farewell to the fabulous Lillian Rifkin, mother, mother-in-law, wife, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, who passed away on Thursday, July 12, 2018 at age 93. Lillian will be remembered forever for her joyful, positive, generous spirit and the love she gave to everyone whose lives she touched. She lived a full and rich life and everyone lucky enough to have known her loved her immensely.
Lillian was born in the Bronx on May 14, 1925 to William and Gussie Urbach. She and her older sister Gloria, lived through the difficult years of the Great Depression but Lillian remained an eternal optimist who never gave in to despair. She married Harry “Sonny” Rifkin, her one true love, on June 28, 1947. With their four children, they moved to Paramus, NJ in 1962 and Lillian built a home filled with love and warmth and kindness. Her children, Donna, Glenn, Cookie, and Richard, adored their mother and when Sonny died tragically in 1979, they came together to take care of their grief-stricken mother. No surprise, she took care of them. She got back on her feet and made a full life for herself, first in Florida, living next to her lifelong best friend Vivian David, and then returning to New Jersey in 1994 to be near her growing family.
Lillian always heaped endless praise on her sons- and daughters-in law. Donna’s husband Lenny Gingold, Glenn’s wife Janie Rifkin, Cookie’s husband Bruce Schiff, and Richard’s wife Debbie Rifkin. She came to love them all as she loved her own children.
Lillian worked as a retail salesperson for many years at Saks, Lord & Taylor and Macy’s. She traveled extensively on tours and cruises with her friend Vivian, and saw the world. She was a voracious reader who recorded the hundreds of books she read in a journal, and she played a mean game of Mah-Jong. She loved Broadway show tunes, and lamented a never-realized singing career. She loved dogs and they loved her. Her greatest joy, however, was her family. She was the joyous Nana to Michael, Daniel and Lisa Gingold; Benjamin Rifkin, Steven, Adam, and Robbie Schiff; and Alex and Grace Rifkin. When Glenn married Janie, she welcomed Janie’s children Cameron and Laura into the fold. She attended nearly every high school and college graduation and danced all night at the many weddings and bar mitzvahs. She embraced Amy, married to Michael Gingold; Stephanie married to Steven Schiff; Ashley, married to Adam Schiff, and Dan Tune, married to Lisa Gingold.
When these grandchildren, who cherished their Nana, began families of their own, Lillian became a great-grandmother several times over. She welcomed Ethan and Dylan, sons of Michael and Amy Gingold; Hayley and Gregory, daughter and son of Lisa and Dan Tune; and Elijah, son of Steven and Stephanie Schiff.
Lillian’s great optimism in the face of a sometimes harsh world became legend among family and friends. Everything was “fabulous” and everyone was beautiful, handsome, and “for Hollywood.” When illness struck after she turned 90, she never complained and never gave in. She spent her last year happily residing at the Chelsea in Manalapan assisted living facility, and in a short time became a popular resident, beloved by the staff and her hospice aids.
She is a tough act to follow and she leaves the world a far better place for having been in it. Her loving spirit will live on forever.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, July 15, 2018 at the Bloomfield Cooper Jewish Chapels, 44 Wilson Ave., Manalapan, NJ. The family will receive guests from 12:15PM until the service at 1:00PM . Burial will follow at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge, NJ.
Memorial contributions should be made to the American Cancer Society.
Shiva will be observed after the burial at the home of Richard and Debbie Rifkin starting 4:30PM . Shiva will continue Monday at the home of Cookie & Bruce Schiff from 4:00PM to 8:00PM and conclude on Tuesday at the home of Donna & Lenny Gingold from 4:00PM to 8:00PM .
