Gail Helfand

Gail Helfand was born Gail Swersky on August 27th, 1941 in the Bronx, NY to Max and Dora Swersky. Gail was a sister to Norman, Herbert, Marvin, and Lenore. Beloved wife of Jack Helfand. Loving mother to Steven and Neil and adoring grandmother to Jagger, Acadia, and Axel. Amazing mother-in-law to Stacia and Marny and loving auntie and cousin to the Swersky, Helfand, Areman and Schewe families.

Gail attended Walton High School (all girls at the time) in the Bronx and attended college as a younger and older adult. Gail married Jack in December 1965 and moved to greener pastures in Whitestone Queens. Gail and Jack made a wonderful home in Clearview Gardens for the past 54 years with a door that was always open to all. Gail worked for many years before and after having children and found herself volunteering often including as a peer support specialist for the neighborhood until her passing.

Gail is remembered by so many as always saying the right thing, always being uplifting, and always doing it all with intelligence and wit. She loved cooking for others, music, the arts, politics, reading, learning, and her garden. And of course, she loved her family and friends like no other. We say goodbye for now with the utmost appreciation for her life and all she touched so lovingly.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Cornea Research Foundation of America https://www.cornea.org/Donate.aspx would be very much appreciated.

A funeral service for Gail will be held Thursday, June 6, 2024 from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM at Sinai Chapels, 114-03 Queens Blvd, Forest Hills, NY 11375. Following the funeral service will be a committal service from 1:30 PM to 2:15 PM at Beth Israel Cemetery, 1098 Woodbridge Center Dr, Woodbridge Township, NJ 07095.

Shiva will be held at the home and Gail and Jack Helfand; 163-56 17th Avenue, Whitestone, NY on Thursday from 5PM to 9PM and Friday 11AM to 3PM.

WE INVITE YOU TO SEE WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF GAIL BELOW