Edith Naomi Feder's Obituary
FEDER, EDITH NAOMI Passed away September 27, 2011 at her home at Highland Springs Retirement Center, Dallas, TX following a seven month fight against pancreatic cancer. Born November 8, 1922 in Philadelphia, PA she will go to heaven to join her husband of 51 yers, Harold W. Feder, who preceded her in death. A renowned artist, Edith grew up in Philadelphia and studied at the University of the Arts in that city where she recieved her Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in illustrations. She did freelance work for prominent magazines including Jack and Jill, Seventeen and Cosmopolitan. She was also a model in New York City during the 1940’s, working for major fashion houses. Edith served in the Stage Door Canteen in Philadelphia and did charcoal portraits of servicemen and women which were sent home to their families. A friend set up a blind date with the 28 year old, Edith and Harold, a 35 year old bachelor Navy officer, a maxillofacial surgeon stationed outside Philadelphia. That night, she knew in her heart that he was the one. After two months of dating and with no understanding of their future together when he reported to Korea for eighteen months, they corresponded and were married one month after he returned to the U.S. Edith loved the Navy life and joined her husband at postings in Bethesda, MD, Long Island, NY, Norfolk, VA, San Diego, CA, Memphis, TN, Naples, Italy and Groton, CT. Upon his retirement in 1968, they moved to Crofton, MD, just outside Annapolis where Harold and Edith spent many years sailing the Chesapeake Bay on their boat the Penna-IV, traveling the world over and again, attending the the opera and theater and enjoying their numerous friends. Edith especially loved their time in Italy in the early 1960’s as the couple, along with their children, Barbara and Rick, traveled extensively throughout the continent and beyond. Because of her art background, she was especially thrilled to see the European original masterpieces of works she had studied in college. She recalled her “goose bumps” when she saw Michelangelo’s marble sculptures. In her travels, she packed his biography, The Agony and the Ecstacy, so she could check off each name of his work that she saw. As wonderful as the Italian assignments was, it did have a disappointing conclusion. Upon their return to the U.S., Edith discovered that her portfolio, which contained her career’s work and advertising samples, was lost forever. Over the fifty-one years of marriage, Edith never bought a card for Harold, giving him 4 of 5 personally drawn, creative cards a year for each and every holiday, anniversary or birthday celebration (probably 200 cards). She continued her art doing commissioned oil portraits for many years and her home was filled with images of family and models from ther oil painting classes. Edith loved her many friends at Highland Springs Retirement Center and kept everyone smiling with her incredible sense of style. During these seven months when she was in decline, she was lovingly cared for by a special group of homecare aides led by Juliet, Stella, Doris, Rachel and Enid. Edith is survived by her daughter, Barbara Feder Buzzell of Dallas, TX; son, Rich Feder and wife, Teresa along with their children Fiona and Tommy in Alhambra, CA; her sister, Shirley Herman Goldstein of Annapolis, MD. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold W. Feder; her brother, Gilbert Herman and her parents, Mayer and Mildred Herman. A memorial service will be held at Highland Springs Retirement Center on Friday, October 7, at 12:30PM. Edith will be interred with her husband at Arlington National Cemetery, just outside Washington, DC. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made in memory of Edith Feder, on behalf of her children, Barbara Buzzell and Rick Feder, to the “Food 4 Kids” program at the North Texas Food Bank.
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