Bernice Peitzer, age 91, of West Orange, passed away on April 2, 2020. She was born in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York, on June 3, 1928, to Lulu Lipshitz Wechsler and Harry Wechsler. On January 2, 1954, she married Herbert E. Peitzer and they moved to West Orange in 1960. Bernice was a talented floral artist, an avid gardener, reader and writer. She was a Girl Scout Leader with her twin sister Joan, when they were young. Bernice volunteered at St. Barnabas Medical Center with the pastoral staff, 20 years and provided spiritual guidance to Jewish patients there.
She also volunteered for 30 years with Hospice and visited local nursing homes to provide spiritual caring for the residents. Bernice studied with Rabbi Zalmaan Schachter-Shalomi and was ordained as a Rebbe (spiritual teacher) for instruction about living a Jewish spiritual life. Bernice led Jewish spiritual meditation groups in her home. She enjoyed attending writing groups, and poetry groups in the area, where she shared some of her writings. She wrote and published the book entitled, Forever Flowers, which provides instruction about how to press flowers, and showed her wonderful array of pressed flower art and creations. In addition, Bernice wrote two unpublished books about The Keys to Happiness and Jacob’s Ladder.
Bernice was the owner and creator of Peitzer Floral Arts. She worked on magnificent pressed flower stationary, portraits, bouquets, invitations, and jewelry, for over 50 years. Bernice sold her pressed flower arts to many national department stores, participated in many arts and craft shows, and trade shows at the Javits Center in NYC, and to celebrities , Hollywood’s Hal Wallace and NASA ‘s John Glenn’s daughter, where her pressed flowers were included on the wedding invitations. Bernice was a member of B’Nai Shalom synagogue in West Orange, NJ. She was also a member of the JCC Metrowest Couples at Leisure.
Bernice is survived by her husband, of 66 years, Herbert Peitzer. She is also survived by her sister Irma W. Bryerman (of Melville, NY), by two sons, Dr. Jay Peitzer, and wife Barbara, (of Boca Raton, FL), and Haywood (Woody) Peitzer, and wife Wendy ( of Randolph, NJ) . Bernice is survived by four grandchildren, Julia (Ridgewood, Queens, NY), David (Bedminster, NJ), Aryiel (Boca Raton, FL), and Samantha (Belle Isle, FL). She is also survived by her brother in-law, Harold Peitzer (El Paso, TX), several nephews, nieces, great nieces, great nephews, and great-great nieces and a great-great nephew, and cousins.
A private burial graveside, for immediate family, was held on April 5th, at Mount Lebanon Cemetery, with arrangements made by Bernheim Apter Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel, Livingston, NJ.
Memorial contributions may be made in her name to B’nai Shalom Synagogue, West Orange, NJ
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