Helen Goldfracht

WATERBURY-Helen (Bear) Goldfracht, a life-long resident of Waterbury, died Thursday the 21st of June after a long illness at Beechwood Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in New London, CT.

The daughter of Waterbury residents Rose (Schwartzman) and Samuel Bear, she was a graduate of Crosby High School. She continued her education at Post Junior College, the Perry Business School, and the University of Connecticut, Waterbury Extension.

In 1948, she married her late husband, Isidor Goldfracht, a Mechanical Engineer, and World War II veteran who served overseas with the United States Army.

Helen worked in various business and administrative positions for the Waterbury Credit Bureau, Legal Aid, the City of Waterbury, and the State of Connecticut for many years. She also found time to work as the librarian at the Beth El Synagogue on Cooke Street in Waterbury for 15 years.

Helen was an active member of Beth El Synagogue, and several charitable organizations including Beth El Sisterhood, Hadassah, a Life Member of Ladies Aid, Friends of the Silas Bronson Library in Waterbury and a member of the Mattatuck Museum.

Her hobbies and interests included the theatre, classical concerts, and Shakespearean plays, and she particularly enjoyed walking and visiting museums. She displayed a keen interest in following the stock market, and avidly read business publications. For many years on Election Day, she could be found working at the polls, assisting registered voters.

Helen will be remembered as a person who displayed an enduring thoughtfulness and generosity by honoring a family member or friend with a card, note, or gift on their birthday or anniversary.

In addition to her parents, she was pre-deceased by a younger brother Joseph Bear of Waterbury, and an older brother Philip Bear of Hamden.

She is survived by her daughter, Joan F. Goldfracht and husband Steven Caplowe of New London, CT, and her late husband's brother Paul Goldfracht and wife Hadassah Goldfracht of New London, CT. Her many nieces and nephews include Stuart Bear and his wife Cheryl Chase, Jacki Kronenberg, Audrey Bear, Fay Maxen and husband Neal Maxen, Michelle Wrubel and husband Marc Wrubel. Her extended family also includes nine great-nieces and nephews, and four great-great-nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday June 24, 2012, at 11 a.m., at the Alderson Funeral Home of Waterbury, 9 Holmes Ave. Burial will be in Brass City Lodge Cemetery, Stillson Rd., Waterbury. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be gratefully made to the American Cancer Society, 825 Brook St. I-95 Tech. Center, Rocky Hill, CT 06067-3045 or the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Dr.,P.O. Box 5022, Wallingford, 06492-5022.