STRAUSS Edna Rita (nee Higgins), joined her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, December 30th, 2016, surrounded by her family. She was the daughter of Isabel (Bullen) and Joseph Higgins, and stepdaughter of Francis Pullis. Her husband Frederick, her son Glenn, and her brother Stanley (Evelyn) predeceased her. She leaves behind a devoted family: daughters Karen Moya (Joseph), Wendy Dabney (Bruce), and sons Eric, Stephen (Linda), Tracy (Gayle), and Alfred (Barbara). Grandchildren: Paul, Daniel (Tina), Carla, Amanda (Jon), Ethan, Erick (Rachael), David (Maura), Sean, Ryan and Kelly. Great grandchildren: Micah, Ezra, Anica, Emma, Jasmin (Piers), Justice, and Jenesis. Great-great-grandchildren: Yoshi, Aydin, Liya. Edna was born on Shakespeare Avenue in the Bronx, NY on December 13th, 1921. She spent her hardscrabble early years on Staten Island, before moving to North Bergen. She attended the Barbizon School of Modeling. She was an Executive Secretary for Paramount Pictures in NYC prior to her marriage. During WWII, Edna's coworkers used her leg measurements in place of Betty Grable's, as the GI pinup girl was unavailable for a publicity release. She met her soulmate, Fred, on the Palace fishing boat out of Hoboken, New Jersey. Coincidentally, they each had accompanied their fathers that day. Although she was seasick, he introduced himself. Fred was shorter than Edna, so she bought her first pair of flats for their first date. They were engaged by their third date. They married seven months later, during the Blizzard of December 28, 1947. Their limo was stranded, so they trudged through snowdrifts to the reception. The Hudson Dispatch pictured them front page beneath the banner "The Bride Wore Boots", in a nod to a popular film of the era. The couple moved to Hawthorne, NJ, where they lived until Fred's death in 1988. Edna worked part time while raising six children. She excelled at in-home day care, and in secretarial positions at Ridgewood Answering Service, St. Paul's Church and St. Joseph's Hospital. In 1990, Edna purchased a home in Albuquerque, and moved there with her son Eric. She spent her final decade living with Karen and Joe, enjoying the attention and devotion of her entire family. She loved the endless sky of New Mexico, and the ever-changing mountains of Albuquerque. She made frequent trips 'home' to NJ, staying at the summer cabin on Upper Greenwood Lake, while hosting family and friends. Edna's faith was central to her life. She lived her Christian values daily. She was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in North Bergen. She was a member of St. Luke's and St. Paul's Churches in Paterson, Bethlehem in Ridgewood, Trinity Evangelical and Cross of Hope Churches in Albuquerque. True to form, in her final hours, she reminded her loved ones, "Continue to do good works." Edna taught English as a Second Language. She was a member of the Bergen Poets and the Radburn Players. Edna was a lover of hats and heels, yellow roses, tulips, African Violets and the color green. She enjoyed gardening, crocheting, and singing in the church choir. Her pies and breads were relished at every holiday. Autumns in Hawthorne were marked by a grape