Joseph Rafalowicz, 86 years of age, of West Hartford died Saturday, December 3, 2011 at home with his family at his bedside. Born in Lodz, Poland, he was the son of the late David and Malkah (Wolfman) Rafalowicz. He was a Holocaust Survivor immigrating to Hartford in 1949. He was a production manager for Gold Bond Mattress in Hartford until he retired. Joseph was a member of United Synagogues of Greater Hartford in West Hartford, the First Ludmir Benevolent Association of Hartford, and the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC. He participated in Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Project to document personal Holocaust stories as well. This oral history project fulfilled his mission to help future generations to remember the Holocaust. Joseph always attended the annual Greater Hartford Yom HaShoah memorial ceremony, and was honored as a survivor, to light a memorial candle at this service. Joseph enjoyed meeting and talking with people. He loved making a beautiful home and vegetable garden for his family. His children and his wife were his pride and joy. He leaves his wife, Mary (Szydlowska) Rafalowicz; his daughter, Naomi Rafalowicz of West Hartford; and two brothers, Julius Rafalowicz of Howard Beach, NY, and Abe Raff of Pearl River, NY. He was predeceased by a daughter, Ann Molly Rafalowicz and by a sister, Chaia Rafalowicz. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 11:00 AM in the Chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Ave., Hartford with Rabbi Elimelech Ostrozynski officiating. Interment will follow in the First Ludmir Benevolent Society Cemetery, Hartford. Shiva will be observed at his home Tuesday following the interment through Thursday evening. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 100 Raoul Wallenberg SW, Washington, DC 20024 . For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Joseph, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com.