Obituary of Elberta S. Buerger

Elberta Schwartz Buerger died on Saturday, April 23rd at the Essex Meadows Health Center in Essex, CT. Mrs. Buerger was born in Farmingdale, NY. on April 4, 1910, the daughter of Mabel Chandler Schwartz and John Phillip Schwartz. She is a graduate of Barnard College and received her Masters Degree in Education from SUNY, Albany. Before marriage, Mrs. Buerger taught English at the Graham Middle School in Mount Vernon, NY. After raising three daughters in Mt. Vernon and Chappaqua, N.Y. she and her husband Louis R. Buerger moved to Madison, CT. Elberta and Lou were intellectually curious people who loved music, art and literature and they were world explorers. They spent summers at Chautauqua, NY and moved to Essex Meadows 27 years ago. Mrs. Buerger was a community volunteer wherever she and her family resided. PTA positions, the League of Women Voters, her role as a Girl Scout leader and trainer, and church activities were just a few of her contributions. Later, she taught English as a Second Language to adults, and with several other women, organized an AAUW group in Westchester County, NY. Upon moving to Madison, Mrs. Buerger was a Member of the Madison Winter Club, the First Congregational Church, and co-chairman of a large fundraising program for the Madison Library. Since moving to Essex Meadows, she has been a member of the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, and an active participant in the many activities offered at Essex Meadows. Mrs. Buerger is survived by two daughters, Marcia Carlson of Bedford, NY. and Gail Kerr of Lunenburg, MA; six grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren. Her third daughter, Barbara Abernathy of Burlington, NC predeceased her. A private family memorial service is planned and interment will be at Ferncliff Cemetery in Scarsdale, NY. Contributions in Mrs. Buerger's memory may be made to the Chautauqua Foundation/Elberta S. Buerger Fund, P.O. Box 28 Chautauqua, NY 14722 or the Employee Appreciation Fund, Essex Meadows, 30 Bokum Rd. Essex, CT 06426. To share a memory of Elberta or send a condolence to her family, please visit www.rwwfh.com. Arrangements by Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, Centerbrook.