Gwen A. Brenner, born May 15, 1937 in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. to Abraham Krakower and Theresa Krakower, passed away April 7, 2018 after a long and valiant fight with a pulmonary condition. After College, Gwen had served at St. Frances Hospital as a surgical nurse before giving birth to her children.
Gwen was a Poughkeepsie native and strong believer in its vitality as a community. She gave tirelessly as a local philanthropist and served on the boards of many Dutchess County organizations, including: Executive Board, Dutchess County Association of Senior Citizens; Executive Board and Liason, Cuneen Hackett Cultural Center; President, Friends of the Samuel Morse Historical Site; Fundraiser, Hudson Valley Philharmonic; Board Member, The Anderson School for Autistic Children (Rhinebeck, NY); Board Member, Dutchess Golf & Country Club (Prizes); Co-Chair, Anne Frank Exhibit at Morse Site and Wallace Center (Hyde Park, NY); Board Member, Jewish Federation; Board Member, Jewish Community Center (Poughkeepsie, NY); Chairperson, Fundraising at Temple Beth-El (Poughkeepsie, NY), and was a dedicated member/fundraiser for several organizations such as Haddassah, and UJA (United Jewish Appeal).
Gwen co-chaired, together with her husband, Marshall (deceased 2014), many fund raising projects for the Dutchess County Association of Senior Citizens (DCASC) and over the years, together, they also co-chaired several committees for the preservation of the Jewish Community Center of Poughkeepsie, organizing several fund raising events such as “An Evening with Ray Charles”, “An Evening with Jackie Mason”, and “An Evening with Alan King”.
Gwen was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was married to Marshall L. Brenner on August 9, 1959, and remained a strident, faithful, and fiercely loyal family matriarch until her hour of passing this past Saturday evening, peacefully, while sleeping. She is survived by her children, Scott Brenner, Louri Sala and Robin Fishman, as well as seven grandchildren, Jay, Stevi, Jacob, Dylan, Noah, Emma, Andrew and great grandchild, Mila-Rose. Gwen is also survived by her brothers, Leon Krakower (Poughkeepsie, NY), and Aaron Krakower (Palm Desert, CA).
Services are Wednesday, April 11, 2018, at 1:30 PM in Temple Beth-El, 118 So. Grand Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12603. Rabbi Daniel Victor will officiate. Burial will follow in Family Plot in Temple Beth-El Cemetery, Poughkeepsie, NY. Arrangements are under the direction of Wm. G. Miller & Son FH, Inc., 371 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12603. If you wish to send an online condolence please visit our website at www.wmgmillerfuneralhome.com

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