REBA CHONOFSKY
Social services coordinator

Reba Chonofsky, a lifelong Vineland area resident, passed away peacefully at the age of 83 on Sunday, July 22, 2007, at Faulkner Hospital in Boston, after losing her battle with lung cancer.

She was born and raised in Norma, which was at one time the longest surviving Jewish farm community in America. Growing up she enjoyed a very happy childhood often reminiscing and sharing stories of those carefree days within the strong bonds of the then tight knit community. Her early education began at the "Little School" in Norma, of which she has said, "The class consisted of Jewish, Italian, and black youngsters. We all had something in common, we were all neighbors and we were all poor." For a short time during World War II, she supported the war effort by working on a factory assembly line in Philadelphia, manufacturing wing assemblies for the Navy's Corsair fighter planes. She also corresponded with brothers, Joseph and William, stationed in the Pacific Theater, as well as a young soldier, Arthur Kurlansky, stationed in England in the Army 8th Air Force, whom she later married.

She was a stay-at-home mom until her children reached adolescence, then she took a position as a department manager at Garwood Mills, rising eventually to assistant store manager. Later, on she managed the Merco Drug store, the Annette Shop, and 60 Plus Shop, which led her into a 20 year career in social services as the coordinator of the Personal Assistance Services Program (PASP) for the Cumberland County Office on Aging and Disabled. The program provides personal assistant services to eligible, physically disabled adults by enabling them to prepare for and partake in employment, and or pursue educational opportunities. The people she helped through the years are too numerous to count. When PASP celebrated its 20th year of service in 2005, Reba was honored by the governor of New Jersey and the NJ Department of Human Services at the celebration with the coordinator's longevity award. She worked in this capacity to arrange home care services for severely disabled clients. Her compassion, expertise, tenacity, and savvy equipped her to assist in the transformation of so many lives. This was her calling, her labor of love; she worked in this way until she was 81 years old. She will be missed by all who knew her.

She was the last surviving child of Israel and Fannie Bezlen Chonofsky of Norma, and sister to Joseph, William, and Henry Chonofsky. She is survived by a son, Alan Kurlansky of Wynnewood, Pa.; daughter, Debbie Kurlansky-Winer of Newton, Mass.; daughter-in-law, Lola A. Kurlansky; son-in-law, Charles B. Winer; grandson, Jilan Kurlansky; granddaughter, Ahsiya Kurlansky; a grandson-of-the heart, Shad Qudsi, son of Brenda Qudsi of Vineland; 15 nieces and nephews; 12 great-nieces and nephews; and countless dear friends from all walks of life, religions, colors and origins.

A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. today at Rone Funeral Service, 1110 E. Chestnut Ave., Vineland. Interment will immediately follow at the Alliance Cemetery in Norma. The family will hold Shiva services from 6 to 8:30 p.m. today, Wednesday, and Thursday at the home of Reba Chonofsky, 1964 E. Oak Road, Unit D-6 in Vineland.

Donations and contributions can be made to the Thoracic Oncology Programs at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney St., Boston, MA 02115 or Sons of Jacob Congregation, 321 Grape St., Vineland, New Jersey 08360.

To send online condolences please visit our Web site at www.ronefuneralservice.com.