Saralee Levinsky Harrisburg of Portland passed peacefully on April 11, 2021 at The Samuel L. Cohen Households at The Cedars, Portland. A graduate of Deering High School in 1953, it was there that she began dating her high school sweetheart, future husband, Robert J. Harrisburg. They were married for 65 wonderful years. She attended Tufts University where she studied childhood education. Saralee Harrisburg is the daughter of Goldie Romanow and Jacob Levinsky, founders of Levinsky’s; civic minded, her parents taught her the importance of education, charity and community. Saralee embraced these values, active in Jewish life in Portland and Israel. Full of life and boundless energy, Saralee was a gracious and caring woman. She was the co-founder of Bosal Foam, Fiber and Fabric and the co-owner of Gail Ann Fabrics in Scarborough where she worked for over 30 years. Known there with admiration as “Mrs. H” and “The General,” she delivered great service and expertise. Her kind heart, intelligence, quick wit, wisdom, and warmth will be missed. While quiet by nature, she had an infectious, positive energy. A voracious reader well-known at her local Portland library, she found beauty in ideas and the written word. She played the piano, kept a meticulous home, prepared nutritious meals and baked, most notably, her famous oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Mindful of her health, she enjoyed being outdoors, stretching and exercising daily. She enjoyed riding her bicycle, aerobics, gardening, and taking long walks especially around Mackworth Island. In keeping with her spirit, Saralee would tell her children, “You don’t get everything in life, so count your blessings” and “I have lived a full life.” She approached late-stage ovarian cancer like a fighter, gracefully surviving actively for a few years while maintaining her wicked sense of humor and dignity. More than anything, she enjoyed and deeply valued her family. She left this world peacefully and without regret.
Saralee was a devoted wife, mother, Nana, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. She set a gold standard by her example. We thank her for giving us life, joy, love, wisdom, courage and happiness. Saralee Harrisburg is survived by her husband, Robert J. Harrisburg; daughter Gail Danieli and son-in-law Aryeh Danieli, daughter Ann Oppenheim, daughter Halley K Harrisburg and son-in-law Michael Rosenfeld; grandchildren, Tal Danieli, Ela Danieli and husband Gal Moldevan, Chen Danieli and fiancée Eliram Dror, Samuel Oppenheim, Gabrielle Oppenheim, Julius “Jules” Oppenheim, Ruby Rosenfeld and Bella Rosenfeld; and great-granddaughters, Bar Moldevan and Hadar Moldevan; brother Phillip N. Levinsky and sister-in-law Elizabeth Levinsky, and sister Faye Snider and brother-in-law Marvin Snider; and many loving nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Jewish National Fund (JNF).