Sally Harburger, 105, avid reader

Sally Harburger, who read up to four books a week despite being 105 years old, died on Monday evening, Feb. 18, at Laurel Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was the mother of Ridgefield artist Sue Shapiro of 54 Florida Road and the widow of Benjamin Harburger.
Mrs. Harburger was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on Nov. 14, 1896, a daughter of Russian immigrant parents, Max and Susan Toll Moser. She was the last surviving child of five children.
For much of her life, Mrs. Harburger lived in Fleetwood, N.Y., and worked in nearby Bronxville at The Leonora Shop, later The White Shop, which her daughter described as a “swanky dress shop. Even in the 1930s, you could buy a dress there for $800 or $900.”
Mrs. Harburger worked there until her retirement at the age of 75. “She was known all over Bronxville as Miss Sally,” Mrs. Shapiro said.
Mrs. Harburger moved to Ridgefield with her daughter and son-in-law Alan Shapiro in 1984. “She cooked for us until she was 90,” Mrs. Shapiro said. “She was the Nanna we all loved.”
An avid reader, she read three or four books in large print each week, borrowed from the Ridgefield Library, until two days before her death.
“She loved Ridgefield and was very happy at Laurel Ridge where the loving staff always made her feel so very good,” said her daughter. “She was very brilliant, very bright, right up till the end.”
Besides her daughter and son-in-law, Mrs. Harburger is survived by a son, Julius Harburger of Florida, N.Y.; seven grandchildren: Ann Shapiro of Clinton, Paul Shapiro of Redding, Linda Park of Westborough, Mass., Mary Susan Rynecki of New York City and Chester, Jay Harburger of New York City, Steven Harburger of New York City, and Paul Harburger of Los Angeles; four great grandchildren: Eli Morse, Emmett Callinan, David Rynecki and Lucas Shapiro; and two great-great grandchildren: Carter Henry Rynecki and Christopher Rynecki.
Services will be private.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the Large Print Collection, Ridgefield Library, 472 Main Street, Ridgefield CT 06877
The Kane Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.