Naomi I. Werne, Esq.

Naomi Irina Werne, Esq., passed away on March 20, 2023 at the age of 77, after a battle with diabetes, pneumonia, and congestive heart failure. While she faced significant health issues for much of her life, she maintained a vibrant sense of humor, and always had a joke or two to tell in conversations with her friends and family.

A lifelong New Yorker, Naomi was born on March 24, 1945, in Flushing, NY. She graduated from Brooklyn Law school and worked as a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney in Queens, NY for over 30 years. She was a fervent animal lover, and through her membership in the New York City Bar’s Committee on Legal Issues Pertaining to Animals (the “LIPTA Committee”), she worked tirelessly to protect animals from cruelty and exploitation. She adored her many cats throughout the years, and enjoyed sending humorous and sweet poems written in the voices of her cats to her nieces and nephew.

She was a vigorous fan of music and culture, and relished taking her family members to NYC institutions like the Village Vanguard and the Natural History Museum. She was a devoted daughter, living with and caring for her mother Irene Garrow Werne, M.D. until Dr. Garrow's death on March 17, 2006.

Naomi is preceded in death by her father, Dr. Jacob Werne; her mother, Dr. Irene Garrow Werne; and her aunt, Eleanor Nyilas. She is survived by her sister, Dr. Joellen Werne, and brother-in-law Dr. John Smolowe; her brother, Dr. Carl Werne; her nieces and nephew, Joanna Werne, Emily Kennerley, Laura Smolowe and Jacob Smolowe; her grandnieces and grandnephews, Ella, Mia, Jonathan and Noah; and her sister-in-law Pat Vance.

Funeral services will be announced at a later date.  Arrangements by the Timothy A. Berkebile Funeral Home, in Bedford.  Our online guestbook is available at www.berkebilefuneralhome.com.