Cheryl Ruth Katz Rundle

   Cheryl Ruth Katz Rundle, 71, of New Hartford and formerly of Utica, passed away peacefully, Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at her residence.

   She was born on April 29, 1954, and grew up in Herkimer, the daughter of the late Sydney and Cynthia Katz.  Cheryl was a special education school social worker for the Utica school district for many decades, working in all of the schools in the district over her career. She eventually became Chair of the Special Education Committee for the district, working tirelessly to make sure every child had what they needed to succeed.

   After her retirement, she became a full-time volunteer for various organizations all over the Utica area, especially the Oneida County Historical Society, and many food kitchens and homeless shelters. Cheryl especially loved preparing meals for the less fortunate every Thanksgiving and Christmas for decades.

   She was a lifelong supporter and constant volunteer at the Utica public library. She taught Michael that it was a magical place where you could learn anything. To this today he has many fond memories of the times he spent there with his mother.

   Cheryl, in her free time, loved gardening. She had extensive raised beds of flowers at her previous home and was extremely proud of them. Cheryl also had a special creativity that she showed in making “activity books” for her son, grandchildren, niece and nephews. She would spend every year scouring magazines to cut out or copy interesting facts, pictures and games for them. 

   Cheryl was a member of Temple Beth Joseph, Herkimer.

   Survived by her son, Michael and Meaghan Ellis of North Carolina; her grandchildren Alyssa Rundle and Zachary Rundle of North Carolina; her sister Jo M. Katz of Albany; sister and brother-in-law Judy and Bryan Whittaker of Frewsburg; and a niece, several nephews and four great nephews.

   Cheryl’s funeral service will be held at 10 a.m., Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Temple Beth Joseph, 327 Prospect Street, Herkimer, with Cantor Kal Socolof, officiating. Interment will be made in the Temple Beth Joseph section of Oak Hill Cemetery, Herkimer where she will be laid to rest with her parents. Shiva will be observed Monday night, March 9 at Jo Katz’s home in Albany. Donations in Cheryl’s memory may be sent to the Utica Public Library.

   Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Scott J. Pizer for Jacobson-Pizer funeral chapel. (315) 797-9121.