Asya Gelfenbeyn

Asya Gelfenbeyn (October 1, 1940 - March 21, 2024) was born to the late Chaim Litvak and Nesia Polishuk. Asya's personality was larger than life and all who knew her, were lucky. Asya was born in the Holocaust but managed to escape with her family and become a biochemist after going to college in the Ukraine.

Asya was married to the late Alexander (Sasha) and is survived by her two daughters: Mila and Lena. At age 39, Asya and Sasha flew across the world to start a new life in the United States - no English language, no money, and nothing except their girls. Leaving all of their family behind. They knew they had to come to America because all Asya ever wanted was a better life for her girls. Asya was a storyteller at heart. A beauty that captured all who knew her. She held many jobs in America, but the most notable was working with Sasha at their shoe repair store. Customers would stay and talk for hours with Asya while Sasha fixed the shoes in the back; she had a gift of knowledge and kindness.

Asya is preceded in death by her husband and survived by her older daughter, Mila and her husband Steven, her children Katherine and Jeffrey and their children August and Sasha, Mark, Anya, and Nadia. And Asya's younger daughter, Lena and her husband Edward and their daughters Maya and Kira. Asya also leaves behind her beloved sister Nata and her husband Roman Ratner and their son, Misha and his wife Sara and their children Jeffrey and Noah. and beloved cousins in Chicago and in Israel.

Baba Asya leaves a hole in the world and a hole in her family’s hearts. She will be dearly missed by her loved ones and many friends.

A gathering of friends and family for Asya will be held Sunday, March 24, 2024 from 10:15 AM to 10:45 AM. followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM at Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel, 68 Old Short Hills Road, Livingston, NJ 07039. Burial will follow at Beth David Memorial Park, 43 North 31st Street, Kenilworth, NJ 07033.

After Glow

I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one.

I'd like to leave an after glow of smiles when life is done,

I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways,

Of happy times and laughing times and bright and summer days.

I'd like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun.

Of happy memories that I leave

When life is done.