Phyllis R. Gurwitz

Phyllis Gurwitz, 80 of West Hurley, NY, passed away on Sunday, April 30, 2023 at her home in West Hurley, NY surrounded by her loving family.  She was born on April 7, 1943 in the Bronx, and was the daughter of the late Sam Barban and Minnie Magsitza.

She graduated from Walton High School in the Bronx.  She then went on to graduate from City College with a Teaching Degree.  She also received a Master's Degree in Special Education from SUNY New Paltz. She worked for 30 years as a caseworker for Ulster County Child Protective Services before she retired in 2018.  After retiring she remained in the area. Phyllis was married on July 11, 1965 to David Gurwitz at Leonard's out on Long Island, NY.  They celebrated 56 years of marriage before David passed away in 2021.  

Phyllis pursued a variety of interests including knitting, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.  Those who knew Phyllis knew her as a wonderful mother and grandmother as well as a caring friend.  

Phyllis is survived by a daughter, Deborah Schachter of Hurley, a son Daniel “Baruch” Gurwitz and his wife, Jill Pelavin of Boston, MA.  Two grandsons, Sam and Eli Schachter and close family friend, Brandi Williams.  

Arrangements entrusted to Keyser Funeral & Cremation Service, Inc., 326 Albany Avenue, Kingston, NY 12401, where family and friends may visit on Friday May 5th, 2023 from 10 am to 11 am. The funeral service will take place at 11 am. A tribute for Phyllis may be found at www.KeyserFuneralService.com, where you may leave memories and expressions of sympathy for her family. In lieu of flowers, for those who wish, contributions in Phyllis’s memory may be made to Family of Woodstock at familyofwoodstockinc.org or The Friends of the West Hurley Public Library at https://westhurleylibrary.org.