Funeral Details

Harriet Rebecca Lavenda, nee Zukowsky, passed away peacefully on December 12, 2025; beloved wife of the late Dr. Nathan Lavenda (deceased 2008), and Sidney Sack (deceased 1958); loving mother of Dr. Bernard (Fanny) Lavenda, Dr. Ronald (Linda) Lavenda, Iris (Steven) Shapiro, Rabbi Stuart (Karen) Lavenda, Steven (Linda M.) Lavenda, Elaine (Martin) Saklad, David (Nitzy) Lavenda; sister to the late Morris (the late Ida) Zukowsky, Selma (the late Irving) Schein; and grandmother and great grandmother to many. She was predeceased by her parents Jacob and Evelyn Zukowsky. Born in Bronx NY in 1928, shortly before the beginning of the Great Depression, Harriet moved to Hartford, CT, when she was a teenager. She and Sid began their family in Hartford in 1950, but after his death in 1958 she married Nat in 1961 and eventually moved to North Adams MA, and Oshkosh WI, before settling in the Chicago area in 1969. She was a stay-at-home mom until the children were grown, when she became an administrative clerk at various manufacturing companies in Skokie including Riley Pan Alarm where she worked for over 20 years, while attending classes at a local college. She graduated in 1982 from Northeastern Illinois University with a Degree in Social Work. Although she never used her degree for a livelihood, her greatest accomplishment was the bringing together of two families and being blessed with grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a lifelong member of Hadassah, and until she moved into Park Plaza in 2016, an active member of the Skokie Chabad. Prior to the pandemic she enjoyed travelling to see family and friends who will deeply miss her compassion, her humor, and her spirited approach to life. Funeral services will be held Monday, 10AM at Chicago Jewish Funerals Chapel, 8851 Skokie Blvd. Skokie, IL 60077. Followed by interment Shalom Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Chabad of Skokie, 4059 Dempster Street, Skokie, Illinois 60076 www.skokiechabad.org or to Libenu, 8052 Monticello Avenue. Suite 203, Skokie, Illinois 60076 www.libenu.org. To attend the funeral livestream, please visit our website. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com