Jacobson-Pizer Funeral Chapel, Inc.

05/23/2025

11/12/2024

Therapist Kristina Dirk said a funeral can be important because it is a first step to acceptance in realizing that a person has passed away.

10/26/2024

Dr. Howard Berg (1939-2024)

A Beloved Dentist and Community Member

Howard Berg, formally of Dolgeville, New York, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 18, 2024, at the age of 85 at his residence in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Born in Utica, New York, on March 14, 1939 to parents Louis and Rhea (Ribyat) Silverberg, he had a happy childhood growing up with his many nearby cousins and brothers Monte and Alvan. Growing up in upstate New York, he excelled early in school, sports, and music.

After graduating high school, Howard married his high school sweetheart Nancy Helfert on August 21, 1959, and they remained happily married until Nancy's passing on November 5,
2019.

Howard graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Doctor of Dental Surgery and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. Together, he and Nancy had a long-standing dental practice in
Dolgeville. A dedicated and skilled dentist who served his community for many years, “Doc” Berg was widely known for his easy-going demeanor and for the quality care of his patients. He
did not retire until he was 76 years old.

Howard and Nancy raised three children in Dolgeville, where he was active in the community. He served on the school board for more than thirty years, established youth soccer in town,
served on the Town Library Board, and all the while aimed to never miss his Childrens’ sporting and music events. He and Nancy were active with the community of their synagogue, Temple Beth Joseph, in Herkimer, enjoying observances, events, and weekly dinners out with their Temple community family. They were often easy to find with their friends at their favorite Dolgeville restaurants whether at Motors, Arthur's, or Green Acres.

Howard’s love of life and learning included aviation. He acquired a private pilot license and a plane in his 20s, and took many flights for fun and family travel. Of his skill as a pilot, Nancy remarked that she felt more comfortable with him flying a plane than driving a car. Most of his interests were developed solely by reading books. He had a photography darkroom in the basement and built the first of his 25-foot sailboats in the garage. Howard even captained a 50-foot catamaran for family and friends on tour of the British Virgin Islands.

He had a deep appreciation for history and literature, instilling a deep love of reading in his children. His natural curiosity extended to science and craftsmanship, and he became an accomplished woodworker, producing many pieces of fine furniture. A man of diverse interests and talents, Howard heartily enjoyed skiing, chess, tennis, sailing, and trap shooting, all of which he loved to do with his family and friends. Howard was a serious backgammon and
billiards player, had an extensive model train collection, and nurtured a highly productive vegetable garden. He was an active athlete his entire life, playing with and organizing local ice hockey and soccer teams. Having a lifelong love of the game of tennis, he had a backyard court built and invited friends and family to play nightly.

Howard was quite an early adopter of technology, teaching himself how to build a personal computer from Radio Shack parts in the late 1970’s. He effortlessly stayed online right up to his last days, remaining active to stay in touch with family, follow international sports, and play online chess with friends and family.

As an avid and thorough reader of the New York Times, he was particularly happy when that newspaper published his Letter to the Editor. Once, in Albany NY, he met his literary hero Elmore Leonard, who further encouraged his interest in the art of writing.

Howard embraced all that life offered and remained passionate and grateful for everything that he had, including daily sunshine.

Howard is survived by his brother Alan and Trisha Silverberg; his children and their spouses, Rachel Berg and Andrew Hewett, of Portola Valley, CA, Sheldon Berg and Lisa Joy Rosner of Emerald Hills, CA and Samuel and Carole Berg of Portsmouth, NH; his grandchildren Isaac, Rhea, Harley, Dina, Ruby, Zara, Seth and Sydney who know him as their beloved Zeyde.

Dr. Berg’s funeral will commence at 12 p.m. (Noon) Monday, October 28, 2024, from Temple Beth Joseph, 327 N. Prospect Street, Herkimer, with Cantor Kal Socolof, officiating. Interment will follow in Temple Beth Joseph section of Oak Hill Cemetery, Herkimer. The Berg family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until the time of service. Shiva and visitation will be 6 p.m. Monday evening at temple with 7 p.m., minyan service.

Contributions, in his memory, may be offered to the Alzheimer’s Association. www.alz.org

Funeral arrangements are under the care of Scott J. Pizer, Director for Jacobson-Pizer Funeral Chapel. (315) 797-9121

09/03/2024

ANNOUNCEMENT!

Our funeral home line is down at the moment !

If you need us , please call me at 315-701-0770….

Or Bottinis at 315-336-6120.

We are hoping to have fixed asap .

Thank you
Scott J. Pizer

06/12/2024

Our phones are down at the moment . If you need immediate assistance call me on messenger , or 315-868-3696 or 315336-6120 for my coverage

Call now to connect with business.

06/12/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/MLsapCt95U5EFnGk/?mibextid=WC7FNe

02/21/2024

Dearest loved one,

I know you think I have died, but I’m not gone. Death is just a four-letter word—although you might want to double check my math on that one.

Do you remember how in high-school science class your teacher talked about the first law of thermodynamics? Yeah, me neither.

So let me refresh your memory. Your teacher told you that energy could neither be created nor destroyed, but only transformed. Well, I get it now.

Nothing dies, not really. And that’s not religion, that’s science talking. In fact death doesn’t technically exist—at least not the way you think. Only change exists. Only transformation exists. Particles get disorganized, then reorganized, then re-re-reorganized.

But death? Nope.

Take flowers. They wither and become mulch, which then becomes topsoil, which then becomes minerals, which then becomes pH and soil salinity. Then, these elements reassemble themselves to become the building blocks for new flowers. On and on it goes.

Or how about water? Water forms clouds, clouds make rain, rain gathers in rivers and lakes only to be used in swimming pools, iced tea, kitchen sinks, and vodka gimlets. Water then evaporates to become more clouds.

Now I ask you. Does that sound like dying?

Or maybe you can think about it like this. Long ago, when trains still ran through small towns, children would often run to the depots and watch the trains come and go. Do you remember those days? Children would marvel at the mighty engines with their clouds of steam and sounds of diesel and steel.

Then, it happened like this: Passengers would climb aboard. The train’s doors would close. The coach would disappear over the horizon. All those people vanished in a mere instant.

But were they gone? No way. They were just unseen. Death is like that.

I am no longer seen. You cannot touch me, but I am here beside you. I am still your dad, although I cannot embrace you. I am still your mom, even though I cannot kiss you. I will always be your sister, your brother, your child, your best friend, your spouse, your lover, although I cannot hold your hand or whisper in your ear.

All I can do is look upon your marvelous face and smile at you from behind this eternal glass. You might not be aware of me, but make no mistake, I’m still around, kid.

Nobody ever tells you before you die that there is no “up there” and “down here.” Most folks live believing that their deceased loved ones are far away. Some envision a heavenly place so remote that it seems more like Fiji or Timbuktu. But it’s not like that. And I see that now.

Heaven isn’t a geographic location. It’s not on a map, there are no coordinates. Therefore, heaven is neither bound by rules of time, nor measurements of space. Thus, your manmade concept of distance doesn’t hold water in this new realm.

Don’t you see? If distance doesn’t exist, then there is no distance between us. Meaning: I'm right here, reading this over your shoulder. There’s a reason our ancestors called it the “hereafter.” Because it’s right here.

I’m not lightyears away. I’m not on a sky island surrounded by cloud coverage and the booming voice of Charleton Heston. I am seated beside you. I can smell your shampoo. I can count your freckles. And I love you so very much.

I know you miss me. Believe me, I know. I see you grieve when you think nobody is around. I have watched you weep into your hands while sitting in traffic. I’ve seen you cry yourself to sleep.

Sometimes when you sob, I want to reach through the fabric of your reality to hold you like I once did, to make it better.

But again, that isn’t how it works. You and I are separated by a thin piece of silk which neither the strongest man could tear, nor the sharpest tool could pierce. Nothing can cross this membrane that divides us except art, music, poetry and love. But I promise it won’t be like this for long.

In the meantime, don’t stop remembering me. Don’t put away my photos. Tell stories about me. If you ever begin to wonder where I am, if you ever feel lost, if you ever need evidence of me, just look around you.

I am the humidity in your curly hair on a wet day. The morning dew on your kitchen windows at sunrise. The laughter around your supper table. I am the text on this screen.

You cannot grasp me. You cannot contain me. And you wouldn’t want to, either. Because I am free in this new place. And believe it or not, I am finally perfect. I am happy. I am healthy. I am whole. And I am with you always, even until the end of time.

But I am not dead. Not even a little.

12/29/2023

Mr. Troy W. Rockwell
Ilion

Troy W. Rockwell, 35, of Ilion, passed away unexpectedly, December 15, 2023.

He was born on June 1, 1988, in Ilion, the son of Kristin Schmidt and Roger Rockwell and was educated in Mohawk schools. Troy was employed with Fermer Precision, Ilion.

Troy is survived by his children, Lucas John Rockwell, Athena Rose Rockwell and a child to be born; his companion, Angela Greseck, his father, Roger Rockwell; his mother, Kristin Schmidt; his sister, Kara Rose Rockwell; his uncle, Kenneth Rockwell; his paternal grandfather, Ronald “Rocky” Rockwell and his maternal grandparents, William and Beverly Schmidt. He was predeceased by his grandmother, Rosie Rockwell and his uncle, Matt Rockwell.

Family and friends are invited to Troy’s celebration of life will be held, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, January 7th, 2023, at the Michael S. Pliseck VFW Post #4915, 129 Mohawk Street, Herkimer.

Troy and his family’s trust are in the faith of Scott J. Pizer, Jacobson-Pizer Funeral Chapel. (315)797-9121.

08/07/2023

Mr. Stanley H. Shapiro, 95, lifelong resident of Utica, passed away peacefully August 5, 2023 in the Charles T. Sitrin Health Care Center, with his loving family by his side, following a brief illness.

Stan was born April 22, 1928, in Utica, to the late Moses and Nettie Caster Shapiro. He graduated from Utica Free Academy and Syracuse University, where he earned his BA in Liberal Arts. On October 21, 1956, Stan married his love, Mundy Barth and the couple would have celebrated 67 years together this year.

Stan started his career with Utica Household Furniture where he was for many years. Then to Rich Plan where he continued to build life long customers and friends. That led to his third career - driving people all over when they needed, whether it was college kids needing rides to the airport, seniors needing rides to appointments or shopping, and temple members needing a ride anywhere – he did Uber before Uber.

Stan was a dedicated member of Temple Beth El for more than 70 years and its Men’s Club, the United Jewish Appeal, and Knights of Pythias. The Beth El community could always count on him when a minyan was needed.

Stan was dedicated to the Utica area and the Jewish community.

Stan was a proud NY Yankees fan and Contract Bridge Life Master. He loved playing, and teaching new players, young and old.

Stan is survived by his beloved wife, Mundy son, James Shapiro; his daughter and son-in-law, Melissa and Steve Hochberg, and his grandchildren Max, Eli, Becca, and Noah. He is also survived by nieces, nephews, great- nieces, great nephews and cousins. Stan was predeceased by his sister, Shirley Woods.

Stan’s funeral will commence, 2 p.m., Tuesday, August 8, 2023, from the original Temple Beth El Sanctuary in the RCIL Building at 1607 Genesee Street, Utica, with Rabbi Gustavo Geier and Rabbi Emeritus Stanley Gerstein, co-officiating. Following services at Temple, interment will be in Temple Beth El Cemetery, Wood Road, Whitesboro.

The family will observe shiva at the family home, Tuesday to Thursday, with minyan services starting at 8:15 p.m.. The family would like to thank the Charles T. Sitrin Health Care Center. Contributions, in Stan’s, memory may be offered to Temple Beth El, 1607 Genesee Street, Utica, 13501. The family’s care is under the faith of Scott J. Pizer, funeral director with Bottini Funeral Home, 120 W. Embargo, Rome.

04/27/2023

Chew on this: One of America’s most iconic gum brands was originally a Jewish-owned to***co business. In 1891, Morris Chigorinsky emigrated ...

06/07/2022