Mildred Unger

Born November 6, 1919 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of Samuel Unger and Leah (Labowitz) Unger. Mildred was also predeceased by her younger sister, Annette Woroner of Wellington, Florida and later, Atlanta, Georgia.

Surviving are lifelong, closest best friend, Roberta J. Kutz, of Pompano Beach, Florida with whom she resided, and many dear, close cousins from around the country who loved and cherished her so very much that they called to chat on a weekly basis and threw her an elegant 105th birthday party in November of 2024 in Boca Raton, Florida.

Mildred attended Girls High School in Philadelphia and was a 1935 graduate of West Philadelphia High School. She worked as salesperson in the local Lit Brothers Department store until she was employed by the United States Navy Department from 1942-1986 after which an American Flag in Mildred’s honor was flown over the United States Capitol in Washington DC in commemoration of her 42 years of loyal, government service and presented to her at her retirement. During her time working for the Navy, she developed a deep appreciation for traveling, both nationally and internationally, setting foot on several continents, more countries than anyone in her circle could recall, and experiencing firsthand an enviable world view and love of humanity. During her long, interesting life, Mildred met President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in New York City, was part of a private audience with Pope Paul VI in Vatican City, waved at a four-year-old Prince Andrew through the window at Buckingham Palace in London, England, and visited the nation’s capital to listen to the country receive a lesson in tolerance as Marian Anderson sang “My Country Tis of Thee” for 75,000 participants in front of the Lincoln Memorial in 1939. Perpetually interested in the world, Mildred toured the White House with Roberta and her family when she was 90 years old, took a cruise to the Bahamas when she was 91, rode the subway and walked the streets of Manhattan when she was 94 to visit the 911 Museum, and flew home to Pennsylvania to visit friends and family at the age of 103. At the age of 101, she inquired if her passport was expired and what the process was to renew it.

Mildred was intellectually curious, sharp witted, and a keen observer of society. She was a voracious reader who loved politics, cinema, and Broadway shows, and in her younger years helped to host Oscar-themed parties where she dressed up as Charlie Chaplin. She threw Superbowl parties with her own special flare, donning Philadelphia Eagles wear and preparing special Hors d'oeuvres in her kitchen where only she was in charge. As she grew older, she continued to expand her circle of friends, remembering important details about everyone she met, and everyone loved her. Her wicked sense of humor allowed her to be easily delighted by something funny, and she was always first to get the punch line. Mildred’s ability to catch people off guard with her well-crafted one liners made her the unexpected life of the party. Her dignified way of dressing and accessorizing was the envy of many, and her taste was impeccable. Dressed to the nines, she took great pride in herself, and she was equally at home with beer and pizza or dining out in a restaurant she termed “fancy shmancy.” Even though Mildred was small in stature, her caring, kind, generous personality was as grand as her enormous heart. Her fierce independence is the reason she lived at home in her own condo until her death. She will be greatly missed by so many.

A celebration of Mildred’s extraordinary life will be announced at a later date and held in Pennsylvania.

Memorials in Mildred’s name can be sent to Macular Degeneration Research