Celia Hait

Celia Z. Hait of West Caldwell died Oct. 21, 2013. Born in Newark in 1918, she lived in Short Hills for 50 years before moving to West Caldwell shortly before her 90th birthday. She also lived in the Ivy Hill section of Newark for 10 years.

For many years Mrs. Hait was the secretary and bookkeeper of Schraft’s Pharmacy of Irvington, the business owned and operated by her late husband Harry.

She graduated magna cum laude from Montclair State College.

In Newark she was PTA president and led the campaign for building the Mt. Vernon Elementary School. She was appointed to and served on the Essex County Mental Health Board and was president of the Hadassah chapter of Ivy Hill.

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She was a member of Hadassah, Temple Beth David, and more recently Temple Beth El, the Lester Society, and the American Contract Bridge League. An avid duplicate bridge fan, she was a Silver Life Master of the ACBL.

Predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Harry H., she is survived by her son, William (Sharon) of Livingston; her daughter, Irene (Paul) Hashfield of Aptos, Calif.; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Services were held Oct. 24 with arrangements by Menorah Chapels at Millburn, Union. Memorial contributions may be made to Community Food Bank of New Jersey.