Ruth Dolly Berg

Ruth was born in the Bronx, New York, on September 14, 1934, to Abraham and Betty Sass. As a young girl, Ruth was drawn to the arts – at just 12 years old, she was sketching fashion designs, and by 16, she was performing piano at Carnegie Hall. Her passion for the arts led her to graduate from New York City’s High School of Art and Music before continuing her studies in Fashion Design at Pratt Institute.

Ruth met her husband, Al, at a dance in 1950, and they married in 1954. Together they built a warm and loving home, first in Bergen County and later in West Nyack, New York, where they raised their two daughters. Once both children were in school, Ruth returned to her own education, earning both a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and a master’s degree in art education.

Whether teaching art, painting watercolors, or creating oil paintings and drawings, Ruth approached life with imagination and enthusiasm. In her sixties, she returned to fashion design, creating elegant, one-of-a-kind bridal gowns that reflected both her artistry and attention to detail. A lifelong learner, Ruth was an avid reader whose interests spanned history, art, fiction, and philosophy.

Ruth and Al were also devoted members of the Nanuet Hebrew Center, now Congregation Shir Shalom. Al was an active member of the Men’s Club, while Ruth contributed her time and energy through the Sisterhood, forming lasting friendships.

Above all else, Ruth will be remembered for her extraordinary kindness, generosity, and love. Family was the center of her life – it was her greatest joy and most enduring achievement.

Ruth is survived by her daughters, Karen of Danbury, CT and Amy of Richmond Hills, NY, and was predeceased by her husband, Al and her brother, Stephen Sass.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association and the Holocaust Museum and Center for Tolerance and Education, at Rockland Community College, 145 College Road, Suffern, NY, 10901.

A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 pm on July 27, 2026, at Hellman Memorial Chapels, 15 State Street, Spring Valley, NY 10977, US, with a live stream available at https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/123751.

Interment will follow at 2:30 pm on July 27, 2026, at Beth El Cemetery, 735 Forest Ave, Paramus, NJ 07652, US.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Hellman Memorial Chapels, 15 State Street, Spring Valley, NY 10977 (845) 356-8600 Jewish Funeral Directors