Natalie Susan Polk

Polk, Natalie, 91, passed away peacefully on Wed., March 18, 2015. She was married to Alexander Polk for 63 years. They settled in North Bergen, N.J. where they raised two children, Iris and Ira. She was active in the local community, working with her sister at Temple Beth El of North Bergen, and later in Human Resources in NYC’s garment industry.

After she retired, she took classes at NYU Extension School, where she & her fellow senior students enjoyed theater, museums, restaurants, and deep friendships. Natalie was an avid reader, member and head of several book clubs at The Galaxy and North Bergen Public Library. She read the entire New York Times daily until her death.

Most of all, Natalie valued friends and family. She and her two sisters were nearly inseparable throughout their lives. She was a devoted daughter and daughter-in-law, visiting “the elders” nearly every weekend. She raised Iris and Ira with strong values and high expectations – which they both dutifully met. She reveled in celebrations of the extended family, many of which occurred at The Green Kitchen, which, in later years, was her very favorite place. She organized and hosted her own 90th. birthday celebration there last year. She cultivated and maintained a wide network of friends of all ages, who valued her intellect, practicality, straight-forwardness, common sense, honesty, broad-ranging interests, and genuine concern for them.

She treasured “simchas” and sharing meals with family. She never missed sending a personal, handwritten card (with generous gifts enclosed) for every occasion. She loved watching her children’s children, and niece and nephews grow up and lead lives of their own. Natalie & Alex loved to travel, especially to visit Iris & her family in CA.

Natalie cherished her independence, which she maintained until after her 90th.birthday. She is forever grateful to the Harborage for the wonderful care they gave her, and her many friends, especially Monica and Henry, who enabled her to remain independent as long as she did.

She was pre- deceased by her husband, Alexander Polk (2006), sisters Rose Perlmutter (Joe) and Gertrude Bell (Milton). She is survived by daughter Iris Berke of CA., granddaughters Elizabeth Vickery (Jason) and Anne Berke (Jerry Cmehil), great-granddaughters Zoe and Ally Vickery; son Ira Polk (Emily), granddaughters Breina Polk Bailey (Steven) and Rachel Polk; sister-in-law, Lonnie Bernardo, niece Lizette Bernardo, grand-nephew Alexzander Bernardo; nephews Eugene Bell (Sally), Andrew Bell; niece-in-law but better than a daughter, Simmy Perlmutter, grand-nephews Michael (Leslie), Mitchell (Leslie) and Brett Perlmutter (Amanda), and their progeny, and a long list of devoted friends. She touched all who knew her.

Family funeral will be Sunday, 3/22/15. In memory of Natalie, read a book, and make a contribution to your local library .Arrangements Gutterman and Musicant Hackensack, NJ