Florence (Abelowitz) Gould

Florence Rose (Abelowitz) Gould, 88, of West Hartford, CT, formerly of Elmont, NY, beloved wife of Sheldon Gould, died peacefully on Thursday (October 13, 2011), listening to the opera she loved, surrounded by her family. She was born in New York City on March 18, 1923, the daughter of Sarah and Max Abelowitz, recent immigrants from Eastern Europe. She attended public school, graduating high school at the top of her class at age 16. She met her husband, Sheldon, at CCNY night school and was married in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on March 18, 1944, during his service in the Army Air Force in WWII. Florence worked for many years in Veteran’s Administration Hospitals, assisting veterans returning from the war. They moved to Elmont, NY in 1950, raising their children, helping to found a synagogue and, in their own way trying to heal the world (Tikun Olam). Florence was a community leader, serving as the first woman president of Temple B’nai Israel and later another term while in her 70s. She also served as the president of Hadassah, the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) and helped found Friends of the Handicapped, an organization focused on the wellbeing of the disabled. She was central to planning and building a new library and cultural center in Elmont. She was an activist in her own right, always trying to do the right thing and help others, no matter who they were or where they lived. An inspiration to those around her, she passed on her commitment to social justice to her children and grand children. Moving to Summerwood in West Hartford in 2009 to be near family, she continued to write poetry, help those around her and make a difference to the end. She is survived by her children, Jackie Gould and Chris O’Brien of Brattleboro, VT and Bruce Gould and Daughter-in-law, Lisa of West Simsbury, CT, 5 grand children, Sara Marvin and her husband Malcolm of Jacksonville, FL, Rachel Peacock and her husband Mark of Booker Bay, Australia, Taryn Gould of Brooklyn, NY, Zev O’Brien-Gould of Denver, CO and Zachary Gould of Brooklyn, NY as well as nieces and nephews, innumerable friends, children and grandchildren by choice and people who loved her. She was a mother and grandmother to all. She will be buried next to her beloved husband on Sunday, October 16th, at 10 AM at Mount Judah Cemetery, 81-14 Cypress Avenue, Ridgewood (Queens), NY 11385 followed by a memorial service at 2:30 PM at the Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation-Emek Shalom, 55 Bushy Hill Road, Simsbury, CT. The family will receive friends at 11 Camille Lane, West Simsbury, CT following the service. They will also receive friends at their home on Monday and Tuesday at 7PM for a brief memorial service. Memorial gifts may be sent to: The Florence and Sheldon Gould Memorial Community Health Improvement Fund and mailed directly to the University of Connecticut Foundation, Attn: UConn Health Center, PO Box 842948, Boston, MA 02284-2948 and/or the Florence and Sheldon Gould Shir HeHarim Teacher Education Fund, Brattleboro Area Jewish Community, PO Box 2353, Brattleboro, VT 05303. For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Florence, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm