catherineldf: (Default)
[personal profile] catherineldf
Mom's obituary, as I am sending it out into the world:

Alice Lundoff was born February 12, 1936 in Astoria, Queens and died April 1, 2020 at the Ebenezer Care Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota from complications resulting from influenza. Alice worked in book publishing in New York City for many years as a picture researcher, finding photos and illustrations for text books, histories, art surveys and other publications. She was one of the founding members and a past President of the American Society of Picture Professionals, a former chair of the Committee for the Picture Collection at the New York Public Library and a Board member at Light Opera of Manhattan, amongst other activities. She also volunteered with Big Apple Greeters and spent her retirement conducting numerous walking tours of her beloved New York City. Alice traveled extensively, visiting most of the U.S. and Europe, as well as Australia, Peru, Costa Rica and Egypt. She was beloved by all who knew her well. Alice is survived by her daughter, Catherine, and her daughter-in-law, Jana, both of Minneapolis, as well as extended family members and good friends. Donations may be made in her memory to Big Apple Greeters, the Picture Collection at the New York Public Library, Planned Parenthood or any local historical society.

I thought about listing various relatives and friends, but every time I check, I find another obituary or get a new notification, so I'm opting to keep it general. I think she would appreciate the fact that I wrote this while listening to the Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra online doing a performance based around Edward Gorey's "The Doubtful Guest." I have procured a lovely hand-painted urn for her ashes, but they are, as yet, not forthcoming, as I gather the Cremation Society has something of a backlog as well as associated virus-related delays. It is worth noting that Mom had a staggering level of charm, such that when she worked in NYC, she was not only popular with her colleagues, but even the janitorial staff would periodically invite her to their big life events, her neighbors in her former apartment building adopted her and even the staff at the Care Center shed a few tears at her passing. She led a full life and it is challenging to sum that up in a few words. I suspect I'll be sharing memories for a while.

Date: 2020-04-19 11:07 pm (UTC)
sartorias: (Default)
From: [personal profile] sartorias
She sounds like a wonderful woman.

Date: 2020-04-20 06:11 pm (UTC)
sartorias: (Default)
From: [personal profile] sartorias
We're all a bundle of complexities. I'm glad you got to know her again. (Especially as my mother lost her battle with alcoholism, and though she's alive, the dementia keeps her from recognizing us most of the time.)

Date: 2020-04-20 01:57 am (UTC)
ckd: two white candles on a dark background (candles)
From: [personal profile] ckd

Date: 2020-04-20 02:02 am (UTC)
queenoftheskies: queenoftheskies (Default)
From: [personal profile] queenoftheskies
She sounds like an amazing person.

Date: 2020-04-20 08:02 am (UTC)
choirwoman: (Default)
From: [personal profile] choirwoman
Thank you for making me cry (in a good way). She does sound like an amazing woman.

Date: 2020-04-20 11:30 am (UTC)
mtl: (Default)
From: [personal profile] mtl
That was lovely. <3 <3 <3

Profile

catherineldf: (Default)
catherineldf

July 2025

S M T W T F S
   12345
678910 1112
13141516171819
202122 23 242526
2728293031  

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Jul. 25th, 2025 07:15 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios