Irene Leff
Funeral Service: August 17, 2025 11:30 AM
Funeral Home: Gutterman’s Woodbury Chapel
8000 Jericho Turnpike,
Woodbury, NY 11797
Cemetery: Beth Moses Cemetery
1500 Wellwood Avenue,
West Babylon, NY 11704
Notes:
Irene Leff, cherished wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, passed away
peacefully at the age of 83 after bravely facing multiple health challenges.
Born to strong, resilient Russian immigrants, Irene inherited a fighting spirit and
a steadfast commitment to causes, education, and never settling or giving up.
Her warmth, dedication, and radiant smile touched all who knew her.
Irene's journey began in Brooklyn, where she met her beloved husband,
Eugene Leff, at age 16, when he chose the beautiful blonde with the
magnetic eyes as his junior counselor at camp in Coney Island.
After first being separated by 3,000 miles when Eugene went that following fall to graduate school at UCLA, he- lovesick and homesick-returned after one year of sending daily letters so that he could be his beloved for the
next seven decades. Their loving partnership spanned a marriage of an
extraordinary 64 years, marked by deep devotion, care and commitment.
Education and empowerment were cornerstones of Irene’s life.
Despite getting married at 19, she was committed to finishing her education,
getting a bachelor degree in education with a minor in the classics and then
a master’s in early childhood education, leading to her becoming an elementary
and nursery school teacher. She became involved in supporting social causes,
including anti-nuke and civil rights marches.
But her most passionate cause was in support of women’s rights and empowerment.
She became a steadfast activist for the women’s liberation movement, marching, protesting, advocating and standing together with others, including her committed husband, who were fighting for change.
Her dedication wasn’t just political—she made it deeply personal, when, due to her fierce promotion of women’s health, and despite already being a full-time working mother, she returned to school to pursue a second master’s degree and built a meaningful career as a community and medical professional health educator.
Her service at North Shore Hospital spanned 28 years, where she was a
beacon of wisdom as a respected and invaluable member of the hospital
community—a second family to her. In addition to her broader work, she touched countless lives providing advice, recommendations and connections to doctors, nurses and medical centers for those in need of support during an illness.
Despite her professional dedication, Irene’s greatest joy was found in the bonds she built with her family and friends. She nurtured deep, personal relationships that endured through decades, including through hours long phone conversations daily, always making time for those she loved, offering her insight, support, and unwavering presence.
Irene did all she did with grace and elegance—always perfectly put together. Her shopping prowess was legendary and her timeless sense of style became her trademark. From her impeccably tailored outfits to her flawlessly coifed hair, she was always the best dressed woman in the room, conveying impeccable style and taste.
Irene is survived by Eugene; her three precious daughters, Marjorie (with husband (Rich), Bonnie (with partner Rob), and Elizabeth (with husband Bruno); and her adored grandchildren, Benjamin, Emily, and Jackson; as well as her cherished twin sister, Naomi, brother-in-law, Richard, and nieces and nephews. She is pre-deceased by her parents, John and Sarah Ribolow and her older sister and brother-in-law, Hedda Ribolow Rosenau and Neal Rosenau.
Irene’s life is a testament to the power of commitment and purpose, hard work and perseverance, love and light, and the unbreakable strength of family and friendship. She was an inspiration to so many and will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by all whose lives she enriched.
May her memory be a blessing.
Funeral and Shiva
A service for Irene will be held on Sunday, August 17, 2005 at 11:30am at Gutterman’s Funeral Home at 8000 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury, NY.
The burial will immediately follow at Beth Moses Cemetery at 1500 Wellwood Ave, West Babylon, NY.
Shiva will be held after the burial at Eugene’s home at 15 Miro Place, Port Washington, NY (~3.30pm) and then again on Monday from 12-3pm and 5-8pm and again on Tuesday at Bonnie’s home at 90 Farm Lake Crescent Road, Chappaqua, NY from 12- 3pm and 5-8pm.
Donations:
In lieu of flowers, donations in Irene’s memory may be made to Planned Parenthood (Donate to Planned Parenthood Action Fund) or the New York City Ballet (Donate Online | New York City Ballet).