Sheila Nitzberg-Kartoz, beloved mother and grandmother, peacefully passed away on September 9, 2022 at the age of 92.
Sheila was born in Brooklyn, New York on October 21, 1929 to Lillian and William Levenson. She was raised in Brooklyn and was a member of the first graduating class of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City earning a degree in design.
Sheila married Harry Nitzberg on October 1, 1949. They settled in the Midwood section of Brooklyn where their two daughters, Barbara and Ellen were born. They lived next door to Lillian and William where their strong family bonds continued.
Sheila, Harry and their daughters moved to Merrick on Long Island. Sheila founded a design firm specializing in interior, furniture and fabric design. At the same time, Sheila taught design at her alma mater, FIT. This career allowed Sheila to take advantage of her deep knowledge of, and appreciation for, art, fashion and style.
After a number of years in New York Sheila and Harry moved to Long Boat Key, Florida. Sheila extended her successful design business to Florida where her business thrived.
In addition to her work, Sheila was an active volunteer across a wide variety of charitable organizations. She was much in demand as a planner for major fundraising events.
As family was so important to Sheila, after her husband Harry passed away, she moved to New Jersey to be closer to her daughters and their families along with extended family in New Jersey, Maryland and New York.
Sheila is survived by her daughter Barbara Lawrence and her husband Brad and their son Zachary and by her daughter Ellen Cooper and her husband Bruce and their son Daniel and his wife Chelsea. Sheila is also survived by her sister Arlene Katz and was predeceased by her sister Joan Herman. She is also survived by a loving group of nieces and nephews and their children as well as by a dear group of close and beloved friends. Sheila is also survived by her extraordinary caretaker Juliette Dunbar.
Private funeral services will be held graveside at Ewing Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are by Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel, Ewing Township, NJ.
The family respectfully requests that any contributions in Sheila’s memory be made to the Lewey Body Dementia Association- LBDA.org.