Bernice Harriet Lazarus

Lazarus, Bernice “Bunny” (nee Parker), 92, of New Milford, NJ, who prevailed time and time again over illness and adversity, succumbed to a combination of debilitating ailments on May 20, 2015 at Hackensack University Medical Center. In life, Bunny was cherished by countless friends as well as her loving family. Bunny and her husband, Ernie, (d. 1969) raised three children ... Ronnie, Dan and Andrew. Upon Ernie’s death, Bunny completed raising her family, as well as taking of her father, Ben Parker (d. 1973), caring for him until his life’s end. Bunny found the strength to do this and much more as she transformed herself from homemaker/housewife to a professional working woman. Bunny is also survived by Ronnie’s husband, Richard Adami; Dan’s life partner, Ken Sass; and Andrew’s wife, Ellen Lazarus, and two grandchildren, Evan and Jesse Lazarus. Bunny was an inspiration to all who knew her. Following a stroke in 1982, Bunny’s ability to verbally communicate was compromised by her expressive aphasia. Undaunted, she compensated for this by blowing kisses to her friends upon entering and leaving a room. This became her signature gesture. Bunny had a zeal for life to the very end. Though she has left this plane of existence, she lives on forevermore in our hearts. Bunny is now blowing kisses from a place devoid of pain and grief. She deserves nothing less.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, May 22, 2015 at 10:30 AM at Gutterman and Musicant Jewish Funeral Directors, 402 Park Street, Hackensack, NJ. www.guttermanmusicanttwien.com. Interment to follow at Mount Hebron Cemetery, 130-04 Horace Harding Expressway, Flushing, NY 11367.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Metropolitan Opera in NYC in Bunny’s memory. www.metopera.org.

Shiva will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2015 from 12 to 5pm at the home of Ronnie Lazarus-Adami,

218 Cedar Road, New Milford, NJ.