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Kasena Karmel, 99, Former Longtime Mamaroneck Resident

MAMARONECK, N.Y. -- Kasena Karmel, former longtime resident of Mamaroneck, died on Saturday, Jan. 30. She was 99. 

Kasena Karmel

Kasena Karmel

Photo Credit: Deborah Burnley

Karmel received a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in English literature from NYU. She then moved into Manhattan and worked at WNYC Radio, and she interned at the United Nations in its early days. She subsequently taught school to underprivileged children in New York and sang in the chorus of the Metropolitan Opera, as well as performing with smaller opera repertory companies.

She was an avid gardener and past president of the Mamaroneck Garden Club, and longtime member of the Larchmont Temple, where she sang in the choir. In her later years, Karmel volunteered at nursing homes, singing as part of a traveling chorus group, and also taught flower arranging to nursing home residents as therapy. In addition, she recorded audio books for the blind. She loved music, enjoyed reading, and wrote poetry, as well as writing a series of articles on plants of the Bible.

Karmel is survived by her children, Jane Karmel and Mary Cunningham of Wilton, Connecticut; grandchildren Charlie and Greg; and niece, nephews and their children.

She was predeceased by her husband, Morton, and her parents, Nathan and Lena (Lauton) Toub.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 5, at the Larchmont Temple. Entombment will be at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, in Hawthorne. A reception will be held at 2:30 p.m. at the Osborn, in Rye.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation by clicking here, or by mail to P.O. Box 515, Northampton, MA 01061-0515, using this form.

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