Elcy (Sirota) Poskanzer, 91, a resident of the Hunt Community in Nashua, N.H., formerly of Albany, N.Y., died March 4, 2007.

The daughter of the late Anna (Kramer) and Harry Sirota, she was also the wife of the late Samuel M. Poskanzer; mother of the late Lawrence Stuart Poskanzer; and sister of the late Miriam Markowitz and Ethel Motlin.

Mrs. Poskanzer grew up, married and raised her family in Albany. She was educated in Albany schools and was a graduate of Albany High School. She was well known in the Albany community for her volunteer efforts on behalf of the Hudson Valley Girl Scout Council, Bat Zion Chapter of Hadassah, Temple Beth Emeth, the Albany Jewish Community Center, and the Albany Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry. 

She worked several summers as the cook at Camp Storey in Feura Bush, N.Y. and for many years as a medical assistant in the department of physical medicine at Albany Memorial Hospital. 

After moving to Nashua in 2001, Mrs. Poskanzer became an active member of the Hunt Community Residents Association and a member of Temple Beth Abraham.

She was known and loved for her practical, yet compassionate personality. She and her husband raised their three children to be independent, hospitable and accepting of others. Her home was always open to those in need of respite. Her greatest joy was spending time with her eight grandchildren and in later years with her six great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Poskanzer is survived by her children, Barbara and Jack Smuckler of Marblehead, Elaine and Bernard Brody of Hudson, N.H., and Joseph and Mary (Inverso) Poskanzer of Atlanta, Ga.; her grandchildren, Abby and Mark Smuckler, Heather Brody, Kate (Brody) and Ofer Nachman, Laura Brody-Young and Jonathan Young, Robyn Brody, Jason Poskanzer, and Jami (Poskanzer) and Larry Kohn; her great-grandchildren, Ami Molkentine, Noah Brody, Sapir, Savyon and Keshet Nachman and Vivian Kohn; as well as an extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, March 7, at 10 a.m. at the Levine Memorial Chapel, Washington Avenue, Albany, N.Y., followed by burial in the Albany Hebrew Tailors Cemetery on Western Avenue. Memorial observance will be held at the home of her daughter, Barbara Smuckler, 9 Countryside Lane, Marblehead, on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.