Elisabeth Joseph

Elisabeth Joseph, of Monroe Township, NJ, passed away on Monday, February 22, 2021 at the age of 97.

Born in Berlin, Germany, Elisabeth survived the Holocaust by working as a maid for a family who entertained Nazis, a family who protected her with food, shelter, and false identity papers. Her brother, Hans Martin Jacoby, was deported to Auschwitz and her parents, Bruno and Ella Jacoby, were deported and murdered in Riga, Latvia.

After the war, Elisabeth married Ernst Joseph, who survived by living in a small room for 27 months, protected by an ordinary German couple. In 1948, Elisabeth and Ernst immigrated to the United States. There they reunited with Ernst’s brother Gerhard in Trenton, NJ, who was able to escape Germany in 1938.  

Elisabeth and Ernst settled in Hamilton Township and later moved to Ewing Township.

Elisabeth was predeceased by her husband Ernst and her granddaughter, Amy Grossman. She is survived by her loving daughter Evelyn Grossman and her husband, Dr. Leonard Grossman; her grandson, Dr. Eric Grossman and his wife Dr. Elizabeth Grossman of Santa Barbara, CA; and great-grandchildren, Josephine, Knox, and James. In addition, she is survived by her nieces, Judi and Barbara, and their children and grandchildren.

Elisabeth was a devoted mother who gave her only child Evelyn deep love and support. Elisabeth was an avid swimmer and shared that passion with her grandchildren, taking them to the JCC pool, plus cheering on Eric and Amy at their many soccer and lacrosse games.

For 15 years Elisabeth worked as a salesperson at Dunham’s department store in Trenton and Lawrenceville. The store was later acquired by Burlington Coat Factory, where Elisabeth continued to work part time.

After retirement, Elisabeth moved to Concordia, an adult community in Monroe Township. Her natural charm and joie de vivre brought her many new friendships and an opportunity to participate with the Rock N Rollers and continue a lifelong passion for dance.

Elisabeth traveled back to Berlin with her daughter Evelyn in 1995 to reconnect with the German friend who saved her life.  A few years later, she honored her rescuer with the title of Righteous Among the Nations.

Funeral services were held February 26 with burial at Fountain Lawn Memorial Park, Ewing Township, NJ.

Memorial contributions may be made to Met Council on Jewish Poverty, 77 Water Street, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10005 or Make a Wish Foundation of New Jersey, 1384 Perrineville Road, Monroe Township, NJ 08831.

To send condolences to the family, visit Elisabeth’s obituary page at OrlandsMemorialChapel.com.

———

Ann Reitzel

Ann Reitzel, 89, passed away peacefully on February 24th at Care One in Hamilton, New Jersey.   

Born in Park Ridge, Illinois, Ann spent her youth in the Chicago area. After marriage she and her husband Glenn raised their family in various locations: Bloomington-Normal, Illinois; Omaha, Nebraska; and Princeton, New Jersey; while Glenn worked for IBM.   

Upon graduating from Iowa State with a degree in child development, Ann worked for Hull House in Chicago as a nursery school teacher before raising a family of three children. Ann contributed a chapter to the book The Parenting Advisor, published in 1978. Once her children were off to college, Ann pursued a career in real estate in the Princeton area.

After retirement in Milford, Connecticut, Ann and Glenn moved to Pinehurst, North Carolina, to enjoy 16 years of regular rounds of golf in between many exciting trips abroad. They always looked forward to summers at their cottage in Three Lakes, Wisconsin, with extended family and friends as members of the Three Lakes Rod & Gun Club.

Daughter of the late Elmer and Gertrude Jarchow Zitzewitz, wife of the late Glenn Reitzel, mother of the late Glenn (Win) Reitzel III, she is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Jocelyn Reitzel Sullivan and James Sullivan of San Francisco, CA, and a son, Andrew Reitzel of Plainsboro, NJ. She was predeceased by her sister Gail Zitzewitz Owen and David Zitzewitz.

Despite the challenges she faced in recent years, her positive spirit remained strong and she will be missed by those who were able to enjoy her smile.

Those desiring to make a memorial donation in Ann’s honor may do so at Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement (www.thewomensalzheimersmovement.org); Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (https://curealz.org); or the Demmer Public Library, Three Lakes, Wisconsin.

A memorial service will take place in late spring in Three Lakes, Wisconsin.

Local arrangements are by the Wilson-Apple Funeral Home, Pennington, NJ. Condolences are welcome at www.wilsonapple.com. Arrangements in Wisconsin will be by the Gaffney-Busha Funeral Home, Eagle River, Wisconsin.

———

Mary H. Walsh

Mary Hildebrand Walsh died on February 27, 2021 in Skillman, N.J.; she would have been 99 in April. Mrs. Walsh was born in Greenville, KY, to the late Bess (Procter) Hildebrand and William Alfred Hildebrand. She was predeceased in 2018 by her husband, W. James Walsh. Mrs. Walsh attended the University of Louisville before deciding to move to New York City to pursue an acting career after World War II. She left drama school in New York to become a model at Bergdorf Goodman’s custom-made department and modeled in high fashion shows for many years.

Mrs. Walsh met the love of her life at a party in New York City. She and Jim were married in 1950 and resided in Upper Montclair, N.J. After marriage she raised three children, continued her modeling career, and pursued her interest in the theater by working with the Junior League’s Children’s Theater in Montclair, N.J.  In 1969 Mrs. Walsh and her family moved to Princeton, N.J., where she was a longtime member of the Present Day Club, the Dogwood Garden Club, the Nassau Club, and the Nassau Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Walsh was most recently a resident of the Stonebridge Montgomery retirement community in Skillman, N.J.

Mrs. Walsh is survived by her three daughters and their husbands (Cynthia Walsh and Rene Milo, Diana Walsh and Paul Magnin, and Jennifer Walsh and Bernard Wharton), five grandchildren (Alex, Christopher, Tyler, Kayleigh, and Zach) and two great-grandchildren (Jayden and Lily).

Arrangements are under the direction of the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.