With heavy hearts and loving memories, we announce the passing of Elena Kuperberg (Firer) known as Asya, who departed this life on August 10, 2026, in Fort Lee. Born on November 2, 1935, in the vibrant city of Odessa, Elena lived 90 remarkable years marked by resilience, compassion, and a profound devotion to her family.

From her earliest days, Elena embodied a spirit of warmth and perseverance nurtured in Odessa’s coastal embrace. She cherished her parents, Srul Firer and Eve (Schwartzman), whose love guided her through life’s joys and trials long after their passing. Elena’s love for her roots never faded, even as life’s journey led her far from her birthplace after immigrating to the United States in 1989.

Family was the cornerstone of Elena’s world. She shared a rich and loving bond with her sister, Olga German, with whom she navigated life’s milestones and memories. She was also a devoted mother to her daughter, Rita Kriss, whose life she filled with wisdom, gentle guidance, and unconditional support. Elena found immense joy in her beloved grandson, Jacob Kriss, and warmly embraced Jasmin Kriss as family. Her eyes sparkled with delight at every moment spent with her great-grandchildren, Jaxen and Iyla Kriss, to whom she bestowed boundless love and gentle stories from her own youth.

Elena’s life was further enriched by the relationships she fostered—with family, with friends, and with every soul she encountered. Her presence radiated kindness, and her laughter was a balm to all. Those who were lucky enough to experience her hospitality, her listening ear, or her unwavering encouragement will carry her light with them always.

As we gather to honor her memory and celebrate a life exceptionally lived, services in loving remembrance will be held on August 16, 2026. The funeral service is to begin at 11:00 a.m. at Eden Memorial Chapels, located at 327 Main St, Fort Lee, NJ. Following this, loved ones will accompany Elena to her final resting place at Beth David Cemetery, 300 Elmont Road, Elmont, NY, where a graveside service will take place at 12:45 p.m.

Though Elena "Asya" has left this world, her legacy endures—in her family, in the lessons she imparted, and in the countless small kindnesses that defined her life. Her family, friends, and all whose paths she so gracefully touched mourn her deeply and celebrate the extraordinary gift that was her presence among us. May her memory forever be a blessing.