Obituary: Jeanette Dankberg

Our beloved mother passed away peacefully at the age of 98, just weeks shy of her 99th birthday. She leaves behind a legacy of unconditional love, relentless positivity, and a passion for living life to the fullest.

Born in the Bronx on Aug. 13, 1927, she attended James Monroe High School and went on to Hunter College in New York. She worked as an administrative assistant for many years for different companies, bringing her characteristic dedication and positivity to everything she did.

She met the love of her life, Sy, at a dude ranch in upstate New York, where she famously beat him at ping pong. They were married for over 51 years, showing their children what true love and partnership looked like. Together they shared a love of travel, sports, and simple pleasures — from Knicks games at Madison Square Garden to trips to Alaska and Las Vegas, and yes, even going to Costco, a favorite spot for a dog and slice of pizza.

A New Yorker through and through, she had red-strawberry blonde hair, beautiful blue eyes, and the spirit to match. Mom was kind, selfless and compassionate, but never afraid to stand up for herself or those she loved. She was fascinated by current events and politics, and never missed an episode of the evening news, especially David Muir. She loved movies, celebrity magazines, Jeopardy, bingo, and had a serious sweet tooth, lemon meringue pie was her favorite. She was a wonderful cook, too.

Music filled her life, she loved Patsy Cline, John Denver, and Tom Jones, and had a beautiful singing voice, though she was shy about sharing it. She loved to dance, bowl, and shoot baskets in her youth, and remained active and engaged well into her nineties.

Her greatest joy was her family. She is survived by her daughter, Iris, and son, Ray; her daughter-in-law, Tracy, and son-in-law, Sean; and her four beloved grandchildren, Sam, Harris, Alex, and Marshall. She cherished every detail of their lives and was extraordinarily proud of each of them. She is also survived by her beloved nephew, Fred, and many extended family members and dear friends. She was predeceased by her husband, Sy, her sister, Syl, and her brother, Martin.

The family extends special thanks to the William Breman Jewish Home and Rehabilitation Center and Jewish Towers for their exceptional care and compassion.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor her memory by living with gratitude, showing kindness to others, and cherishing your loved ones. Her beautiful spirit will live on forever.