Becky Hurvitz

Becky Ann (Bunn) Hurvitz, January 27, 1950 - April 15, 2024 of West Hartford, CT.
Becky Ann Bunn from Beaumont, Texas, was born in 1950, the second daughter of Harriet (Stone) and Arthur Bunn. She never quite fit into the Ozzie and Harriet fantasy of the times. Old photographs show Becky and sister [survived by] Harriet Babcock side by side, prim and proper smiling in her pinafore and perfect curls. Becky, adorable, donning a Davy crocket coon skin hat, snarling, feisty, in a Scout Finch kind of way.

She moved to Boston, MA three days after her 18th birthday, where her oldest child, Lena DiGenti, was born. There, she met her husband of 44 years, Bob (Robert) Hurvitz. Bob was organizing a tenant union in the FHA Housing Project in which she and her daughter lived. As her mother always told her, when the right man comes along, he'll knock at your door, which he did. Bob and Becky celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary and almost half a century together. Their friendship and commitment to each other was one for the books.
Before settling down with her husband and family, she explored the true bohemian lifestyle of the late '60s and hitchhiked through Europe and the Middle East. These early adventures helped give her a deep perspective on the world's diversity.

The family moved to Hartford, CT, to be near Bob's family, and they had a second child, Rachel Hurvitz. She may have been a mother of two and a grammy to three, Jasmine, Caelan, and Rayn DiGenti, and a great-grandmother to Juniper DiGenti, but she was a second mom and touchstone to many. Becky loved taking care of and helping people. The door to her home was always open. If you needed a meal, cake, or someone to help you move or organize something or give some practical advice on weathering your current storm, Becky was there. Even if she didn't know you, if she saw a person in need, she wanted to help. A true matriarch, she cared for the whole family and the community until the end.

She spent most of her career working in hospitals throughout Boston and Hartford as a respiratory and pulmonary therapist. She understood how to be present with people during some of the scariest times of their lives. She worked as a political organizer, fighting for the rights of all people, particularly those who needed a hand up. When she could, she brought people into her home to live, and these people became family - sisters, children, aunts, and grandchildren. For the folks she couldn't fit in the house, she worked with West Hartford Interfaith Housing Coalition to help provide affordable and safe housing to those in need. Watching her daughter Lena follow in her footsteps of taking in and helping to raise so many filled her heart with pride.

Later in life, she pursued her love for and skill with children and earned a degree in early childhood education. She was so proud of her children, grandchildren, and extended children that she helped raise.

In her most recent years, if you wanted to find her, it would be gardening, reading, cooking, or lawn bowling. She LOVED lawn bowling and would tout its benefits to anyone who would listen. She was always athletic and spent her childhood in trouble for having skinned knees from racing the boys. Lawn bowling allowed her to engage in physical activity, learn the strategy and complexity of a game, and experience incredible camaraderie. The kindness and friendships of the people in the Fernleigh Lawn Bowling Club would bring tears to her eyes. She was also an active West Hartford Garden Club member, taking great pride in providing the bees, butterflies, and birds with a beautiful and diverse playground outside her window. Her best gardening tip was just to look outside. If there are no flowers out, go to the plant store and buy something blooming; that way, something is constantly flowering in your garden.

Becky was incredibly proud of her daughter Rachel's athletic accomplishments and accolades. The two spent many long weekends together, traveling the country where Becky supported Rachel in the bleachers and on the sidelines as her #1 fan. Texas in the 1950s did not allow girls like Becky to embrace their full athleticism. Getting to witness Rachel not only have the opportunity to play sports as a young girl but also beat the boys on an equal playing field was a dream realized for young Becky.

She believed in science and was rational, practical, and logical. She was fascinated by how the world worked and could always be found with a book, paper, or science magazine. Always a nature lover, animals were a huge part of her life, studying how to train and communicate with them. She spent a lifetime riding horses and always had a well-trained dog and cat at home.

A tribute to Becky would only be complete by talking about cooking. This woman could cook! She was always reading recipes and experimenting with flavors from all over the world. From everyday meals at home to large holiday gatherings to huge political fundraisers, Becky would always impress with the quality of the food.

A hole is left in our hearts, and we are forever grateful for the lessons Becky taught us. Whether it was how to be kind, plant a flower, bake a roll cake, always wear your seatbelt, care for children, or keep a cool head under pressure, we are all better people for having her in our lives.

Please join us in celebrating Becky's life on Monday, April 22 (Earth Day), from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the Elbow Room, 986 Farmington Ave West Hartford, CT. Although Becky's food will not be served, food and drink will be provided.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Noah Webster Library. https://www.westhartfordlibrary.org/the-library/support-the-library/