Matilde L. Turok

Matilde Lourie Turok (“Til”), a beacon of joy, passed away peacefully at 92, on April 9th, 2024, surrounded by family at her home on Lake Bomoseen, in Castleton, VT.

Til was born on February 27th, 1932, in Washington, DC, to Harry Leon Lourie and Beatrice Abrams Lourie. She grew up in Chevy Chase, DC, with her beloved younger brother David.

At age 16 Til travelled to Paris, France, discovering a love for French cooking and fine art. She earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Syracuse University in 1954, where she also discovered her passion for downhill skiing. Til moved to New York City, where she developed a life-long love of jazz music after meeting jazz trumpeter Booker Little, who she lived with until his death in 1961. She embarked on a varied career that spanned from art directing for Redbook magazine to running her own antique furniture stripping business, "Take It All Off," in Hudson County, NJ. She finally delved into typography and printing sales in New York City with great success.

Til met her first husband, Bernard Turok, in the early 1960’s, and raised two sons William Lourie Turok and Peter Lee Turok in Weehawken, NJ.

She married her longtime partner and second husband, John M. Hale, on October 16th, 2004. They were together for 46 years, and after living in Jersey City, NJ retired in 2000 to Lake Bomoseen, where they created and lovingly made their home. There, Til continued to emanate joy. From the splendor she found in nature and skiing, to the joyous and many times hilarious moments spent with her family and grandchildren, she always described these as her “slices of heaven on earth”.

Til’s journey was marked by her resilience as a breast cancer survivor, a testament to her unwavering strength; and throughout her life she shared her keen appreciation for beauty and life’s precious moments. She was eternally positive and saw life as a cup half full not half empty.

Til leaves behind a loving family, including John, her sons William and his wife Rita Kaul, Peter and his wife Jennifer Fox; and her cherished grandchildren: Alison Ann, Evan David, Sophie Lee, Benjamin Louis, Carly Grace, Samantha Rose, and Drew Raymond Turok.

A memorial service celebrating Til’s life and spirit will be announced at a later date. Her family invites those who knew her to remember the joy she brought into the world and to carry forward her legacy of love in their own lives. To honor Til’s life, please consider donating to Susan G. Komen for the Cure or The National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Til’s journey was a testament to living fully, caring deeply, and leaving the world a more beautiful and loving place. Her legacy is her own “joie de vivre” and the gentle love and adoration she inspired in others.

She will be profoundly missed and eternally cherished, her essence forever a guiding light for those she loved.

Arrangments are under the direction of Clifford Funeral Home.