Phyllis (Hirsch) Kornfeld, 86, of West Hartford, formerly of Bloomfield, died Sunday, January 5, 2014. She was the widow of Stuart M. Kornfeld. Born in The Bronx, NY, she was the daughter of the late Saul and Lillian (Gellerman) Hirsch. She was a member of Congregation Beth Israel of West Hartford.
She leaves two sons, Steven Kornfeld and his wife Laura Kolk of Bolton, and Robert Kornfeld of New Rochelle, NY; a brother, Barry Hirsch of Marina Del Ray, CA; three grandchildren, Sheri Hunt and her husband Jonathan Hunt, Jason Kornfeld and his wife Kathy Kuo, and Haley Kornfeld; and two great-grandchildren, Ethan Hunt, and Ashlyn Kuo Kornfeld. She was predeceased by her sister, Natalie Willner. She also leaves three nieces, Lori Gonnu, Katherine Odesmith, Sarah Kornfeld and their families; and her brother in law, Larry Kornfeld and his wife, Margaret.
Phyllis was proud to be one of the original organizers of the Hartford Federation of Paraprofessionals serving as its president for several terms, and helping to form the Retiree Chapter. For many years she was vice president of the Connecticut chapter of the American Federation of Teachers. Phyllis also served on several local and national committees for the AFT and in 2010, she earned their Connecticut Golden Achievement Award and was Unionist of the Year in 1987.
She served as a trustee of Congregation Beth Israel’s Board of Trustees. Phyllis actively participated in Sisterhood, SAGE, Torah Study and Lunch & Learn sessions.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, January 9, 2014 in the Chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Ave., Hartford with Rabbi Michael Pincus officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Sinai Cemetery, Onyx St., New Haven. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in her name may be made to Guiding Eyes for the Blind (www.guidingeyes.org) or United Way of Central & Northeastern Connecticut (unitedwayinc.org). For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Phyllis, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm.
