Karen Kushner Obituary
October 16, 1944 – October 31, 2024
Karen Kushner passed away on October 31, 2024, at age 80, in Brooklyn, New York after a long illness.
Karen was born on October 16, 1944, in Brooklyn to Rose Esther Rothenberg Kushner and Samuel Jacob Kushner. She lived in Brooklyn her entire life.
Karen was predeceased by her grandparents David and Jennie Rothenberg; parents Rose and Samuel Kushner; aunt Kay Rothenberg; uncle and aunt Sam and Sylvia Rothenberg; cousins Arline Diamant-Gold, Lillian Rothenberg, and Ethel and Harold Dichter; and brother-in-law David Roth.
Karen graduated from Sheepshead Bay High School in 1962 and received a bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College. She began her career working for the national headquarters of the Girl Scouts in New York City. Karen received a master’s degree from the New York University School of Education in 1973; and after teaching for several years, she combined her interest in early childhood education with her entrepreneurial spirit and co-founded and led the Parkway School, an innovative preschool and kindergarten located on Ocean Parkway for over twenty years. She was successful and independent long before women were encouraged to be successful and independent.
Karen was devoted to her family and will be remembered as an exceptionally vivacious, warm, and friendly person who brought joy and light to all who knew her. She was especially close to her aunt Kay Rothenberg who frequently took Karen and her cousin Susan Rothenberg into Manhattan when they were growing up for weekend adventures in the city. Karen loved to travel and cherished memories of a special summer trip to Europe and Israel in 1966 with her childhood friend Ruth Landau.
Karen is especially remembered for the deeply devoted and tender loving care she provided to her mother during Rose’s later years.
Karen is survived by her devoted partner Alan Dubrow of Brooklyn, NY; her sister Sandra Roth of Durham, NC; her niece Deborah Roth (Phil Warren) of Durham, NC; and her first cousins and their children and grandchildren: Robert (Pauline) Rothenberg; Jenn Rothenberg; Becky Rothenberg; Susan (Oceano) Rothenberg; Aaron (Andrea) Rothenberg (Kala); Neil (Debbey) Diamant (Ilana, Eli, Aviv); Brian (Laurie) Diamant (Aaron and Samuel).
A graveside service was held at the Mount Ararat Cemetery in Lindenhurst, NY on Sunday, November 3, 2024, officiated by Rabbi Joseph Potasnik. Donations in Karen’s memory may be made to the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation (statueofliberty.org), Judea Reform Congregation in Durham, NC (judeareform.org), Temple Bnai Israel in Willimantic, CT (templebnaiisrael.org), or any charity of the donor’s choice.
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