Ethel C. Jacobson

Ethel C. Jacobson of 920 McGrann Blvd., Lancaster died Thursday, January 4, 2007 at the Essa Flory Hospice Center after a valiant seven-year struggle with ovarian cancer.  Born in Brooklyn, New York on December 5, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Eugene and Frieda Engelmann Karcag.  She and her husband, Dr. Bernard Jacobson, celebrated their 50’th wedding anniversary on August 5, 2006.

Ethel was a graduate of Erasmus High School in Brooklyn, New York and Brooklyn College.  In June 1955, she received her masters degree in psychology, with an emphasis in child growth and development, from the University of Iowa.  During the 1955-56 academic year she was a member of the faculty of Michigan State University. 

A resident of Lancaster, PA since September 1956, she was director of the Little People Nursery School for three years.  She served as a volunteer tutor in the Small Group Instruction Program for special needs students at the Washington School in the Lancaster City School System.  She was a member of the committee that first introduced the Head Start Program in Lancaster.  During the years when her children were in public school, Ethel acted as a room mother and was President of the Nathan Schaeffer Elementary School PTA.

She also was a volunteer for both Contact and Encounter as well as serving in a volunteer role as a reading tutor to illiterate adults in the Learn to Read Adult Literacy Program.  She also did some volunteer work for Planned Parenthood and for the Lancaster County Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Ethel was a life member of Hadassah and served for over 30 years as a member of the Board of the Lancaster Chapter of Hadassah.  As a member of the Board she served several terms each as Treasurer, Financial Secretary and Membership Chairman, and one term as a member of the Presidium. 

A member of the Lancaster Jewish Community Center since 1956, she served on the Board of Directors of the LJCC as well as chairman of the Summer Day Camp Committee.  She also served a term as a member of the Board of the Lancaster Jewish Federation.

Ethel was a member of Congregation Shaari Shomayim and the Congregation’s sisterhood.

Even with her many activities, her main focus of attention and devotion was centered on her family.  She will be sorely missed by her husband, her daughter Sharon J. Randazzo (wife of Christopher Randazzo), her two grandsons Nathaniel and Nicholas Randazzo and her large extended family of cousins, nephews and nieces.  She was preceded in death by a son, Barry F. Jacobson.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, January 8,2007 at the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home, 3110 Lititz Pike, Neffsville/Lititz, PA 17543 with Dr. David Stameshkin officiating.  The family will receive friends at the Funeral Home beginning at 10:30 a.m.  Interment will be in the Shaari Shomayim Cemetery.  Shiva will be observed at 352 Squire Lane at 7:00 p.m. on the evenings of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, January 8, 9 and 10, 2007.  In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Hospice of Lancaster County, 685 Good Drive, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, Pa 17604-4125.