Dorothy Harding, of Kansas City, Mo., died Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014, at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park.
Funeral services were held Sunday, Sept. 14, at The Louis Memorial Chapel, with burial at Mount Carmel Cemetery. The family suggests contributions to Congregation Beth Shalom, Village Shalom or the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education.
Dorothy was a Holocaust survivor from a small village in Poland. She was the youngest of eight children of Avrom and Sarah Kuzecki. Her life was turned upside down with the advent of World War II. Her village was overrun by the Nazis and while still a young teenager she was sent to various concentration camps.
After her liberation, she met the love of her life, Harry Harding, who was a survivor of numerous camps. They arrived in Kansas City on July 4, 1949, with their three-year old son Benny, to begin a new life. By the following January, a daughter, Sylvia, was born completing the New American family.
Dorothy worked briefly in the garment district while her husband started a business that would become Columbia Burlap and Bag Co., Inc.
She was a devoted wife, homemaker and a hands on mother who raised her children while managing the household. She was active in various Jewish organizations, including Congregation Beth Shalom and its Sisterhood, the Women’s Guild of the Jewish Community Center, the New American Club and was a life member of Hadassah.
Dorothy enjoyed the outdoors, tending her garden and wintering in Lauderhill, Fla. Even after Harry’s passing in 1989, she continued to spend half of the year in Florida where she was active in the survivor community, enjoyed many friends from around the world and was a member of the Inverrary Country Club.
Dorothy is survived by her children, Benny and Susan Harding and Sylvia and David Radasky. Dorothy’s greatest joys were her grandchildren, Greg and Amy Harding, Robin Harding, Lucia Harding and Marc and Sarah Radasky; and her great-grandchildren, Mayim Hope Harding, Nolan Spiro Harding and Harrison Preston Radasky. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, Dorothy was preceded in death by her brothers, Hyman and Sidney Kuzecki.
The family wishes to express thanks to her caregivers at Village Shalom who nurtured and cared for her in her later years and Dr. Donald Cohen who extended those years for which her family is thankful.
Condolences may be shared at www.louismemorialchapel.com.
Arr: The Louis Memorial Chapel, 816-361-5211.