In honor of Ellen S. Bedford

FUNERAL INFORMATION:

• Monday, May 15, 2017 at 11am
• Location: Congregation Rodeph Sholom, 2385 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604 (203) 334-0159
• Please do not send or bring flowers to the temple or cemetery, as Jewish funeral services prohibit them.
• Notes for our visually-impaired friends, during Ellen’s funeral:

1. Please arrive at Rodeph Sholom for the funeral service approximately 30 minutes early, so that you can find a seat comfortably in the upstairs sanctuary. There are stairs and an elevator available.
2. Please remain seated after the service is over until those who are going to the cemetery have left the sanctuary.
3. After the family leaves the sanctuary to go to the cemetery for a short burial service, please go back down the stairs or use the elevator to get to a waiting area. There are ushers available to assist you, and there are restrooms near the waiting area for your comfort.
4. Please wait there until the family returns from the cemetery. There will be a meal in Friend Hall upon their return.
5. It will be very helpful if you are accompanied by a sighted person.

SHIVA INFORMATION:

• Monday 5/15, Tuesday 5/16, Wednesday 5/17 from 4–8pm
• Location: 475 Clark Street, Bridgeport, CT 06606
• We will be “sitting shiva”—the Jewish tradition of welcoming friends and family into our home to mourn together, taking place immediately upon the burial of a loved one—during the days and times listed above.

Notes for those not familiar with making a shiva visit:

• If you are planning to visit our home during this period of mourning (known as making a “shiva call”) and would like to bring something with you to the house (not required), kosher dairy / pareve items or fruit are strongly preferred—please do not bring any items with meat.
• Please do not bring flowers to the home.
• There will be a prayer service that takes place for the family each day during the period of sitting shiva at our home at 7pm. Please know that you are not required to participate in the service if you are visiting our home to pay a shiva call during that time.

Additional Information:

• Here is a recording that helps explain what to expect during a shiva call.
• Here is a website with some thoughts about what to expect at a house of mourning.
• Here’s another website with even more details about what to expect during this mourning period.