Vera Hannah Krakauer

January 19, 1928 – April 19, 2025

Vera Hannah Krakauer, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, scientist, gardener, and radiant soul, passed away quietly on April 19, 2025, at the age of 97, having lived an extraordinary life.

Born in Berlin, Germany, Vera was the oldest of three children. Her early life was shaped by the oppressive shadow of Nazi rule, about which she shared many stories. She had a great knowledge of history and openly shared her criticism of political issues that went against her beliefs. She became part of history by documenting her experiences during the Holocaust for the Shoah Foundation. She shared vivid memories of riding the elevated train to school, unknowingly the morning after Kristallnacht and seeing smoking buildings along the way, only to be met by crying teachers who told her to go back home. She was able to attend Catholic school, where, she later joked, that her love for flowers began when she was excused from Bible study to water the garden plants. Eventually, it became too dangerous for the Nuns to educate Jewish children. Vera recalled how she was then sent to an alternate school that taught English and French in preparation for leaving the country. During the Berlin Olympics, a news photographer took her picture while talking to a police officer. It appeared in the Newspaper as representative of a typical German girl. With quiet defiance, she swam in pools banned to Jews, believing that her long braids hid her identity. She even charmed Nazi soldiers into giving her collectible cigarette stickers, recalling the encounter with laughter—an enduring testament to her confidence and resilience.

In late 1938, her mother, Rosa Osman, accomplished the difficult task of securing their Visas. It was Vera’s love for gardening that helped save them. While growing tomatoes on their Berlin balcony, Vera befriended the wife of a young, American doctor, stationed at the American Embassy. In exchange for tomatoes, Vera practiced her English and helped the wife learn German. When the family was delayed by endless lines to complete the required medical exams, the doctor quietly intervened. He pulled their application from the pile of thousands and ensured the forms were processed in time. In March, 1939, at the age of 11, Vera and her parents and brother, Peter, came to America, arriving just months before the outbreak of World War II. Arriving in New York City on St. Patrick's Day, her father, Aron Osman, told her that the parade was for her. And she wholeheartedly believed him. Her younger brother, Franklin joined the family when she was 16. Vera pursued her passion for science, a field that was not always welcoming to women at the time. She talked her way into classes, excelling in chemistry and physics, and was later accepted to Hunter College. At just 17, she worked as a lab assistant while still in high school and later worked as a rheologist, helping to run a research lab.

It was in the research lab that Vera met her husband, the late Sidney Krakauer, a fellow chemist. They married on August 24th 1947 and together raised eight children. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Carolyn and Simon, Emanuel and Patricia, Leonard and Vicki, Andrew and Sherry, Rosalind and Nick, Daniel and Sylvia, Bethlyn and Scott, Edy and Ian. Vera was the proud grandmother of 20 (Steven, Anka, Benjamin, Marni, Nina, Molly, Michael, Melanie, Shari, Joshua, Ariel, Rachel, Hunter, Sydney, Alison, Jordyn, Miles, Zachary, Ella, and Lily. She is great-grandmother to 15: Reuben, Jonah, Max, Ellie, Toby, Phoebe, Piper, Ainsley, Izzy, Jackson, Mia, Ruby, Cameron, Avery, Serena. She was predeceased by her husband, Sidney, an infant son, Israel, and her brother, Peter.

While science was her profession, nature was her lifelong passion. During her many years in Glen Cove, Long Island, she volunteered as a nature preserve guide. Vera had an extraordinary green thumb and a profound love for botany and horticulture. Even the balconies of her later homes in Florida became a vibrant garden, overflowing with plants, flowers, and greenery. Each one nurtured with care, becoming part of her life and legacy.

She spent her last 35 years in Florida, many of them walking on the beach, collecting seashells—always knowing their names. She enjoyed her ocean and sunrise views. Vera had a deep love for swimming—whether in pools, oceans, or even the bathtub, which she often scented with a dash of bleach to evoke the feeling of a pool. She traveled extensively with her family, visiting more than 100 countries, always seeking new experiences. She cruised around the world, with her children and grandchildren always joining her.

At one point, her family received reparations to address the hardships suffered in Germany. Sidney, adverse to the funds, said it should be put in a hole in the ground. Vera’s clever resolution was to accept the money and quite literally put it into a hole in the ground, by building their first swimming pool.

Known for her sharp intellect and remarkable memory, Vera was a proud participant in trivia and Jeopardy, and she had a legendary streak of luck at her beloved Saturday BINGO games, with a roving band of grandchildren. These gatherings became a treasured tradition, filled with laughter and a deep sense of love across generations.

Vera’s energy remained youthful and vibrant throughout her life. She was known for her love of cheerful colors and stylish clothing. She held strong opinions and shared them with confidence, offering wisdom and insight with a clarity that those around her admired. She filled her life with the things she cherished: art, books, flowers, sunlight, and the many people who loved and admired her.

Vera rarely dwelled on the past, instead choosing to focus on the present and future. She lived with simple wisdom, like not letting things bother you. She spoke her mind and, through many hardships, made navigating life appear easy.

Vera's legacy will endure, continuing to bloom in the lives of those she touched.

Shiva will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week at Harbour's Edge, 401 East Linton Blvd., Apt 623, Delray Beach, FL 33483 from 4 pm to 8 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of Vera’s favored charities:

Magen David Adom

American Friends of Magen David Adom

20 West 36th Street, Suite 1100

New York, NY 10018

Boys Town Jerusalem Foundation of America

PMB 6250

209 W. 29th Street

New York, NY 10001