Iris Bobker Zelman

She had a full life - raised her family, ran General Premium Corporation, had a penchant for travel, love of animals and was the life of many parties. She had an independent nature and stubborn streak that transformed her life from a housewife to a shrewd businesswoman. Iris was loving & straight forward, both pragmatic & generous, tasteful, and inventive.

Iris loved meeting new people, savoring food, a chilled “martooni”, her pets and any time spent with loved ones and friends by her pool in Livingston. Mom had a strength rarely seen in many people, yet incredibly sensitive & progressive in her thinking that made her beloved to so many. She welcomed everyone with open arms, treating all as family & dear friends.

Mom was a remarkable woman who only planned to finish high school and raise a family yet found herself thrust into an independent life. She grew in character and tenacity, stepping up to support her family, ensuring we all learned with strength, endurance and will. Iris instilled in us the penchant for knowledge while giving us the tools to achieve whatever we wanted to do with our lives. She wanted nothing ultimately beyond our happiness.

Iris is now reunited with her husband Arthur, her mother and father, Golda (Harris) & Charles Bobker, her brothers Howard, his wife Edna, and Wilbur and his wife Marjorie.

She is survived by her 3 sons – Marc; Gregg and MaryBeth and their children Alec and Casey; Corey and wife Jasmine and their son Avery. Her stepchildren Richard and Jackie and their children Jennifer and David; Diane and her children Caleb and Aviva; Rona and her children Lindsey and Brian; and Lisa and Andreas. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Marilyn (widow of Zachary) and by many nephews and nieces – Dennis, Golda, Barbara, Susan, Geri, Steven, Robert, Stuart, and their families, and their families.

So, We the Bobkers, Minions, Zelmans and Gottesmans invite and hope that all of you who knew and loved Iris can join us in saying farewell this Friday, July 2nd. The funeral service will be at Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman in Livingston at 1 pm. Her burial will be at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery at 2:15 pm.

If you can't attend the services in person, we have arranged for a live stream ( http://webcast.dignitymemorial.com/events/viewer/56434/hash:7CAA5B8587BCCFE8) ) and hope that you can join us in saying goodbye to Iris from wherever you may be.

We ask you to join us celebrating Iris's life during an abbreviated Shiva after the burial Friday afternoon & Saturday 10am-5pm. We will raise a glass in her honor.