Obituary: Amy Susan Berger

Our beloved sister, Amy Susan Berger, 65, of Medford, N.J., passed away peacefully on Jan. 25, 2026, at the Samaritan Hospice Care unit at Virtua Mount Holly Hospital in Mount Holly, N.J. Amy was born on Oct. 31, 1960, in Atlanta, Ga., to loving parents, Leonard and Elinor Berger, who predeceased her, respectively, in 1992 and 2000. She is survived by her brothers, Steven Berger (Poppy White) of Hingham, Mass., and Randy Berger (Suzanne Berger) of Roswell, Ga.; and her sister, Nancy Berger Barth (Jim Barth) of Dammeron Valley, Utah.

Amy was diagnosed at an early age with severe infantile autism and significant learning impairments and was largely non-verbal. Since 1989, Amy spent her adult years at the Bancroft School’s adult residential care program with most of that time at the Himmelein group home in Medford, N.J. Bancroft provided Amy with loving and devoted care. Many of her Bancroft care professionals and mentors were a constant presence by her bedside during her last several weeks at Virtua Hospital. Shirley Hunt, a group home leader for over 20 years for Amy, merits special notice for her love and compassion. Growing up in Atlanta until she was 11 years old, Amy had a similar relationship with Lillie Mae Sams, a trusted companion of the Berger family until her passing in November of 2024.

Despite significant impairments, Amy touched all of those in her orbit with family values passed down to her and her siblings by her parents, including kindness, a mischievous sense of humor, and the ability to fight hard to overcome obstacles.

She treasured the little pleasures in life, whether it was going out for ice cream, wading in the swimming pool, listening to lively 1960s music on her Sony Walkman, or devouring fried chicken all while flashing her trademark smile and saying “bye-bye” to everyone who comforted and assisted her through her daily routines and challenges. Her father, Lenny, crisscrossed the country for years, meeting doctors and scientists in an endless quest to unlock the causes of and treatment for severe infantile autism. He and Elinor would have been highly gratified by how Amy thrived under the auspices of Bancroft.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in Amy’s honor be made to Bancroft (www.Bancroft.org). The family will honor Amy privately at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to H.M. Patterson & Son, Arlington Chapel in Sandy Springs, Ga.