Thelma Janowitz

Thelma Janowitz, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, teacher, and friend, passed away peacefully on May 26, 2026, at the age of 95.

Thelma was an accomplished and intelligent woman who valued education, lifelong learning, community, and service. She graduated from Hunter College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and went on to earn her master's degree from the University of Bridgeport. She dedicated 30 years of her life to teaching elementary school children, touching generations of students with her patience, kindness, and wisdom. Teaching was not just her profession - it was part of who she was.

Her commitment to helping others extended well beyond the classroom. Thelma believed deeply in the importance of community and gave her time and energy generously. She served as Vice President of the Sisterhood of Sinai Temple and as Vice President of NCJW Greater Teaneck Section, an organization of 1,100 men and women. Through her leadership and service, she made a meaningful difference in the lives of many.

Most of all, Thelma was the heart of her family. She will be remembered for her strength, warmth, humor, and unwavering love. She had a way of making people feel cared for, whether through her traditions, her presence, or the small, unforgettable ways she showed up for the people she loved.

Thelma is survived by her children, Margi Quail and her husband, Joe Quail; Beth Goldman and her husband, Robby Goldman; and Philip Kossin; her grandchildren, Eric Quail, Michelle Michael and her husband, Phil Michael, Dani Kossin, and Corey Kossin and his fiancée, Kayleigh Flanagan; her great-grandchildren, Liv and Drew Michael; and her brother, Mark Bornfreund.

She was predeceased by her husbands, Howard Raphael and Kenneth Janowitz, her mother, Sylvia Bornfreund, her father, Irving Bornfreund, her sister, Claire Rabinowitz and her brother, Stanley Bornfreund.

A service to celebrate Thelma's life will be held on Friday, May 29, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Sharon Gardens Cemetery, 273 Lakeview Avenue, Valhalla, NY 10595.

The Shiva is on Friday starting at 6pm and Saturday starting at 1pm at the home of Margi & Joe Quail.

Thelma's memory will be treasured forever by the family she built, the students she inspired, the community she served, and the many lives she touched. She will always be loved.