Obituary of Mary Jane Berkowitz

Mary Jane Berkowitz, born June 19, 1933, long time resident of Norwalk, CT died Sunday, March 11, 2007 of complications after surgery. Mimi, as she was known, was born in Ridgewood, NJ, the daughter of Edward K. and Jane P. Dreier. She graduated from Ridgewood High School and from Connecticut College in New London, CT in 1955, where she remained extremely active throughout her life. Mimi married Harry W. Berkowitz in 1956. Over the years they lived in Atlanta, Houston and Dallas before moving to Norwalk in 1986. Mimi was an active member of the community. She was the Assistant Director of the Darien Historical Society for 10 years. An advocate for children, she was one of the founders of the Norwalk Communities and Schools program, a before and after school service for children at the Kendall School. In addition, she served as a volunteer, mentoring children in the Norwalk Public Schools. Among her many interests, she enjoyed gardening, needlepoint and knitting and was an avid bridge player. Her greatest delight was in spending time with her husband, children and her granddaughter, Hayley at Shelter Island, NY where she will be buried. Mimi is survived by Harry, her husband of 51 years, and by her children, Edward F. Berkowitz of Bristol, CT; Peter S. Berkowitz and his wife Debra of Trumbull, CT; Ann D. Berkowitz of Alexandria, VA and David W. Young of Brentwood, TN. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Nancy and Bill Dailey and her three granddaughters. There will be a memorial service to celebrate Mimi’s life on March 21, 2007 at 11:00 AM at the United Church of Rowayton, 210 Rowayton Avenue, Norwalk, CT. Interment will be private on Shelter Island, NY. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in Mimi’s memory to the Norwalk Community Health Center, 121 Water Street, Norwalk, CT 06854, Connecticut College, 270 Mohegan Avenue, New London, CT 06320 or the Darien Historical Society, Old King’s Highway, North, Darien, CT 06820. Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820