Obituary of Lionel Berger

Lionel ‘Lee,’ ‘Uncle’ Berger

Lionel “Lee” “Uncle” Berger passed away peacefully, in the comfort of home, in the early morning hours of  July 22, 2021. He was born in Brooklyn, NY to his parents Solomon & Pearl Berger on January 1st, 1933. Lionel was predeceased by his parents (Sol & Pearl Berger), younger brother (Ralph Berger) and great-niece (Sarah Lynn Wiener-Mauri).

Lionel started coming to ‘the country’ (Mountaindale) as a child. There, the Berger family would spend their summers in bungalows and live what they called the "simple life." It was there that Lionel discovered his interest in agriculture. In 1950 he graduated from Newtown High School with a focus in agriculture. Lionel then went on to graduate college at Delaware Valley University in 1954 with a Bachelors of Science in Agronomy. Lionel spent some time working various jobs throughout the Midwest in the agriculture field. It wasn’t until 1970 that Lionel moved to Hurleyville to be close to his family.

Lionel was a 50+ year member of the Hurleyville Fire Department. He got his Master's Degree in Social Work and, in 1976, started working for Sullivan County where he met many wonderful people throughout his career. Lionel retired from the county in January of 1995. Since ~1985 Lionel has been doing the bookkeeping for his dear friend Dennis Laufersweiler.

Lionel lit up any room he entered with his singing and occasional little dance. He was a one of a kind man with a great love for his family, friends and community. Lionel considered his friends an extension of his family and appreciated every single one of them for being such a big part of his life. He was known for being a great listener and advice giver.

 Lionel lived by his philosophy that “It is so much easier to be kind to one another” and “To always be good to yourself.”

Lionel will be greatly missed by his family: Sister-in-law Mary Berger, nieces and nephews Penny Berger, Mitch & Rebecca Berger, Sue & Teddy Dailey, great nieces and nephews Eric & Alexa Berger, Corey & Rachel Barry, Jessica & Tucker Lewis (Wiener), Travis & Delaney Berger & great-great niece and nephews Phoenix Rush & Weslee Rose Berger & Jaden Hinton.

In lieu of flowers The Berger family asks that donations be made in Lionel’s name to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties or Hudson Valley Make-A-Wish.

A visitation will be held from 11am to 1pm on Sunday, July 25, 2021 at Colonial Memorial Funeral Home, 396 State Route 52, Woodbourne, NY 12788. A firematic service will be held at 1pm at the funeral home followed by a funeral service. Burial will follow at Hurleyville Cemetery, Main Street, Hurleyville, NY 12747.

Arrangements under the care of Colonial Memorial Funeral Home, for further information call 845-434-7363 or visit www.colonialfamilyfuneralhomes.com