ILUTOWICZ, Sarah - It is with immense sadness that the family of Sarah Ilutowicz, longtime resident of Richmond Hill, Ontario, and more recently, Toronto, announces her peaceful passing on July 5, 2021.
Born in Antwerp, Belgium on February 14, 1938, Sarah was a Holocaust survivor, who, with her parents and younger sister — through a series of unfathomable decisions, extraordinary events and the kindness of others — escaped from an internment camp in France, and survived the Holocaust, waiting out the war in Switzerland.
In 1951, they emigrated to the United States, via New York City. Sarah was a graduate of the Bais Yaakov School for Girls, on the Lower East Side.
Sarah met her soul mate, Harry ‘Herschele’ Ilutowicz, also a Holocaust survivor, in Lower Manhattan, and they later married there, on Christmas Eve, 1955.
Sarah and Harry raised their family in the Bathurst Manor neighborhood in Toronto, and later in Richmond Hill. They ran a successful cheese shop, Kaplan’s Creamery, in the heart of Kensington Market, in the 1970s until the mid-1980s.
When their children were young, ‘The Cheesemobile’ was a familiar sight around Bathurst Manor, as they ferried their children between friends’ homes, local movie theaters, McDonald’s, and the like.
In later years, Sarah was known to many children in her Richmond Hill neighbourhood as their friendly and engaging school crossing guard, a role that she greatly enjoyed.
Sarah was predeceased by her husband, Harry ‘Herschele’ Ilutowicz, sister Helene Seitelbach and parents, Chaim and Gitla Seitelbach (Prangel).
Sarah is survived by her children, Leah Rochelle, Jeffrey Eli and Beverly.
With special thanks and appreciation to Elizabeth Bryce and the staff of 3 East at Valleyview Residence for their kindness and compassion.
Private Family Funeral and livestream service details are entrusted with Steeles Memorial Chapel.
Those who so desire may make a donation in memory of Sarah to the Association for the Soldiers of Israel at 416-783-3053. https://www.asicanada.org/
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