Irene (Waldmann) Leopold

Irene Waldmann Leopold died on Friday, January 3, 2014 at the Hebrew Home and Hospital at the age of 99 1/2. She was born in Windsheim, Germany on May 20, 1914, where her family dated back to 1759. Her parents, Hedwig and Sigmund Waldmann were victims of the Holocaust: Hedwig became ill and died in Munich before being transported. Sigmund died in Auschwitz. Irene came to the United States in 1937 at the age of 23, together with her brother Martin and sister Friedl Waldmann, with a niece Nora. They lived in New York, having been sponsored by two uncles. Irene married Max Leopold in New York in 1942 and lived first in Hartford, and then settled in West Hartford from 1955 until the present. They worked together for a number of years as meat jobbers, selling to restaurants and grocery stores. Max died in 1996 and Irene retired from business. In her retirement she drove elderly people to do shopping and errands and keeping them company, until she could no longer drive. During her lifetime she was a cancer survivor. She was a life member of Jewish Children Service Organization and a member of AMC for many years. She was a long-time member of Congregation Tikvoh Chadoshoh (now Tikvoh Shalom),founded by Rabbi Hans Bodenheimer. A Torah sent to Max and Irene by her father was donated to the synagogue by them. As deteriorating health made it necessary for her to move to the Hebrew Home and Hospital, she accepted it as needing continuous care, and took part in the life of the Home residents with enjoyment. She leaves a niece Joan Leopold Glazier and her husband Leonard (West Hartford) and their family, grandnephew Michael Glazier (Weston CT) and his twin daughters, and grandniece Bonnie Glazier (New Windsor NY); niece Nora Stern and her family: grandnephews Howard Stern (Laurie) and Lawrence Stern (Barbara) and their families, and a nephew Dr. Harold Bloomfield (Hawaii) and his family, plus a number of cousins in Long Island, Stamford and West Hartford. She was very fortunate to have devoted friends and family who visited her frequently and kept her spirits up. The family is grateful for the loving care she was given by the staff at the Home; in particular, Debbie, Trin and Robin from 3N and Jennifer, and more recently, Hospice caregivers Tracy and Brian. Rabbi David Small and Cantor Cohn will officiate at the graveside service on Monday, January 6 at 11 a.m. at the Tikvoh Shalom Cemetery, 11 Clubhouse Road, Windsor CT. Following the service, friends and family will gather at the Emanuel Synagogue, 160 Mohegan Drive, West Hartford. Donations may be sent to the Emanuel Synagogue or the Hebrew Home and Hospital, 1 Abrahms Blvd, West Hartford CT 06117