Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

Zelda Kolodner Siskind passed away on April 22, 2024. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 65 years, Melvin Siskind. For anyone who has ever listened to Zelda's phone answering message, you know that Zelda lives on in the "home of the angels."

Zelda, the daughter of Morris and Belle Cohen Kolodner, was born Nov. 27, 1928 in Macon Georgia. She graduated from Miller High School and attended the University of Georgia.

Married on Nov. 14, 1948, Zelda and Melvin moved to Sanford where they were the proprietors for 42 years of the Army-Navy Surplus Store on Sanford Avenue. A self-described Georgia peach, Zelda flourished in the Sanford and Central Florida communities. In addition to her work life as "Mrs. Army Navy", Zelda was active in the Sanford Women's Club, the Sanford Jewish Community, Temple Israel and Hadassah.

Zelda is survived by her children, Teri Siskind of Folly Beach, S.C., Jeff Siskind of Lake Mary, Fla., and Marcia Leifer and her husband Alan of Newton, Mass.; grandchildren - Bryan Carter and wife Adele, Jessica Leifer and husband Steve Rotchtin, Rebecca Leifer, Ben Leifer and wife Miri Zawadzki, and Veronica Leifer; her great-grandchildren - Max, Chloe, and Milly Carter, Sam, Zoe and Maya Rotchtin and Ike Leifer; sister-in-law, Fayge Cohen of Longwood, Fla.; and loving cousin, Gloria Greenberg of Boca Raton; cousins, nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and-nephews.

Funeral service for Zelda were held in the Jacob "Yank" Frank Chapel at Temple Israel Cemetery (9200 Morton Jones Road, Gotha, FL) with Rabbi Joshua Neely of Temple Israel officiating. May she rest in peace and may her memory always be a blessing.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Hadassah, The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida, Temple Israel, the Sanford Historical Society or another charity.

Services entrusted to Beth Shalom Memorial Chapel, 933 Lee Road, Suite 101, Orlando, Florida 407-599-1180.