Obituaries

Jean (Hoffman) Yanofsky-of Dedham, formerly of Palm Beach Gardens FL and Newton, on December 9, 2018.Married for 53 years to the late Joseph Yanofsky. Beloved Mother of Norman and Kathy, Richard and Susan, Milton and Pamela. Loving grandmother of Ben and  his wife Stephanie, Daniel, Samantha, Caroline, David and his wife Kate, Lauren and her husband  Sean Wirth, and Peter. Great grandmother of Kate Wirth. Sister of Martin Hoffman and his wife Zona, the late Doris and Julius Cohen, the late Libby and Robert Seltzer, the late Gladys and Harry Kadis and the late Herbert Hoffman surviving wife Diane. Sister-in-law to Bunny Shapero and her late husband Phil, the late Robert and Marcia Yanofsky, and the late Charlotte and Barney Cohen. Survived by many loving nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews. Jean was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin. She was a longtime and dedicated volunteer to causes of great importance to her, beginning with the Goodwill League, Perkins School for the Blind, and finally many years with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Family and friends will gather at Wilson Chapel, 234 Herrick Rd., Newton Centre, on Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at 11:00 am. Interment will follow at Mishkan Tefila Cemetery, West Roxbury. Memorial observance will be held at the home of Richard and Susan Yanofsky on Tuesday from 1:30 – 8:00 pm and on Wednesday from 2-4 & 6-8 pm. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to Friends of Dana-Farber, 450 Brookline Ave., SW120 Boston, MA 02215.

Marjorie Altschuler-of Chestnut Hill, suddenly, on December 7, 2018. Beloved wife of the late David Altschuler and Robert Gallant. Devoted mother and best friend of Meredith Bennett and her husband Fred, Allison Edelstein and her husband Steven. Loving grandmother of Alex and Jacqueline Bennett, and Max and Olivia Edelstein. Services at Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward St., Newton, on Monday, December 10, 2018 at 11:00 am. Following interment at Sharon Memorial Park, memorial observance will be at her residence until 8:00pm Monday only. In lieu of flowers remembrances to Friends of Dana-Farber, 450 Brookline,Ave., SW120, Boston, MA 02215.

Melissa Sue “Missy” Barron- age 49, of Brookline, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 4, 2018. She was the beloved daughter of Kenneth C. Barron of Weston, MA, and Judith A. Gold of Scottsdale, AZ. She was the step-daughter of Jane Barron and Herbert Gold. Melissa was a loving sister to Nicole Christopher with brother-in-law Jordan Christopher, and Samantha Lippitt and her partner Pam Godwin. She was also the amazing aunt to Reese, Max, Brett and Jaime. Missy gave birth to an extraordinary and loving child, Taylor, whom she absolutely adored and who was always the center of her universe. Missy was a proud graduate of Brookline HS. Her greatest passion was family. She had a heart of gold and cared for all those around her including her wonderful friends who were a true extension of her family. Missy loved to cook and was legendary for her incredible stuffed mushrooms. Making them with her was a treat for all of her family. Towards the end of her life Missy relished in the joy of other people’s happiness. She was a true believer in love and on any given day you could find Missy playing on her IPAD while a repeat of the Golden Girls was playing in the background. That was just Missy. She will be truly missed and always loved by those she left behind. Funeral services will be held for Missy on Sunday, December 9, 2018 at 12:00 noon, at Higgins Funeral Home, 752 Mountain Blvd., WATCHUNG, NJ. Burial at Mount Lebanon Cemetery, 189 Gill Lane, Iselin, NJ. Shiva will follow at the home of Nicole and Jordan Christopher, 38 Geiger Lane, Warren NJ. Shiva will continue Monday and Tuesday 10-12 & 4-7.

Marc Ryan Nussbaum-of Needham, MA,suddenly, on December 3, 2018. Beloved husband of Tuangtip. Devoted father of Rachel and Jacob. Dear son of Marlene and Morton Nussbaum. Loving brother of Matthew and Melissa. Services at The Wilson Chapel, 234 Herrick Rd., Newton Centre, MA, on Thursday, December 6, 2018 at 1:00 pm.Following interment at Baker St., West Roxbury,  memorial observance will be at his residence until 8:00 pm.In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to The National Epilepsy Foundation, 8301 Professional Place W #230, Landover, MD 20785.

Rhoda (Hurwitz) Abramson, of Framingham and Delray Beach, FL, on December 1, 2018. Beloved wife of the late Allyn I. Abramson. Devoted mother of Andrea Baron and her husband James of Waltham and Carla Smargon and her husband Steven of Mansfield. Cherished grandmother of Michaela, Zachary, and Adam. Dear sister of the late William Hurwitz and Annette Cole. Services at Temple Sinai, 25 Canton St., Sharon, Thursday, December 6, 2018 at 11:00 am. Following interment at Sharon Memorial Park, memorial observance will be held at the home of Carla and Steven Smargon until 8:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Rhoda’s memory may be made to Care Dimensions Hospice, 75 Sylvan St., Danvers, MA 01923.

Muriel(Guren) Leventhal- of Boston and Palm Beach Florida, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family, at 101 years old, on December 2, 2018. Beloved wife of nearly 74 years of the late Norman B. Leventhal. Mother of Paula L. Sidman and the late Edwin N. Sidman and their children Hope and Matthew, Mark S. Leventhal and Donna Leventhal and their daughters Emily, Sara, and Rebecca, and Alan M. Leventhal and Sherry Leventhal and their children Sarah, Alexander, Emily, Jeremy, Steven, and Evan. Great-grandmother of nineteen.

Family and friends will gather to honor and celebrate Muriel’s life at Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward St., Newton at 11:00am on Tuesday, December 4,2018. Burial will follow at Sharon Memorial Park. Following the burial, the family will receive visitors at Muriel’s home on Tuesday until 8pm, and Wednesday from 2pm-5pm and 7pm-9pm.In honor of Muriel, gifts may be made to Boston Children’s Hospital. Contributions may be made online or may be made payable to Boston Children’s Hospital and mailed to Boston Children’s Hospital Trust attn.: Jennifer Hagen, 401 Park Drive, Suite 602, Boston, MA 02215-5301.Muriel was a loving, strong-willed matriarch of her family who will be remembered both for her fierce independence and the life-long partnership she shared with her husband Norman.

Susan Rothenberg passed away peacefully at her home in West Newton on November 24, 2018 surrounded by family and a few life-long friends. Beloved mother of Ann and Ned Rothenberg and the late Jane Rothenberg, loving sister of Roseanne Siegler, loving grandmother of Emma Rothenberg Ware and Camilla Rothenberg, she made it very clear—as only she could—that the time was right and she was ready. Susan was born on July 9, 1927 to Harry and Helen Saftel in Brookline. She held a B.A. from Radcliffe College and an M.S.W. from Simmons College, and she worked for many years as supervising social worker at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center. In mid-career, she learned to paint and soon began adorning the walls of her home with shimmering, evocative landscapes and portraits. After retiring, Susan continued to paint, while participating enthusiastically in the philanthropic activities of her husband, Daniel Rothenberg, who passed away in 2013. Susan was also an accomplished pianist, and she filled her home with the music of Bach and Mozart until the final months of her life. Her music, her gorgeous artwork, and the stories of her life with Daniel are the sweet memories we hold and treasure.

Berk, Karen Joy (Shaberman), of Natick, MA, passed away on November 30, 2018. Beloved wife of Jeffrey Berk. Dear daughter of Marsha (Rabinowitz) and the late Marvin Shaberman. Devoted and proud mother of Sarah, Jason, and Emily Berk. Loving siser of Steven Shaberman and his wife Amy Roth. Services at Temple Israel of Natick, 145 Hartford St., Natick, MA on Sunday, December 2, 2018 at 2:00 pm. Following interment at Framingham-Natick Hebrew Cemetery, (Fairview Ave., Natick, MA), memorial observance will be at the Berk residence until 8 pm, continuing Mon.-Thurs. 2-4 & 7-9 pm, Minyan services at 7:30 pm, and Friday, 1-4 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Karen’s memory may be made to Ovations for the Cure of Ovarian Cancer, 79 Main St. #202, Framingham, MA 01701.

Judith Frances Fischbach, of Newton MA, passed on Saturday, November 24, 2018 at the age of 75. Judy was born during a huge snowstorm in Brooklyn, New York to George and Sandra (Rosen) Goldner. In her youth and teen years, Judy was a competitive ping pong player, graduating as a state ping pong champion from Valley Stream North High School in Franklin Square, NY. Judy’s early career in education and employment training began after receiving a B.S. in Secondary Education and Business at Boston University, followed by a Master of Education at Duquesne University. Judy found her true calling when she earned a Master of Social Work at Smith College, and spent much of her career as the Director of Social Services at Bournewood Psychiatric Hospital and in private therapy practice specializing in child and family counseling. Judy’s passions were her extended family in New York, and the families she created in Boston, first with husband, Daniel Fischbach and children Heidi and Steven, and later with wife, Dr. Susan Wainger. Creating lasting and intimate relationships was Judy’s superpower.  Judy could make friends in a heartbeat, and she could get along with anyone, under any circumstances, and maintain those relationships for decades. She was candid and straightforward while also circumspect and forgiving, and though she worried small details endlessly, she always remembered what was most important in life – caring for those you love.  Judy had an amazing smile and a great sense for making those around her feel positive and optimistic about the possibilities that life offers. Judy is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Heidi and Stephen Frail and their children Max and Leo Frail, and her son and daughter-in-law Steven and Jennifer Fischbach, and Steven’s children Jackson and Jade Fischbach, as well as by her brother and sister-in-law, Daniel Goldner and Alyson D’Anna, and her niece Ariel and nephew Grant. Services were private. In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to the Smith College of Social Work which profoundly changed her life in so many ways.

Brenda Elaine (Rosen) Bellin, age 78, formerly of Marlborough and Framingham, passed away peacefully on November 28, 2018, after a long and courageous battle with metastatic lung cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family who stayed faithfully by her side.

Brenda is survived by her devoted husband Ronald Bellin.  Brenda leaves three children: Paula Bellin and husband Andy Freedman; Wendy Savoie and husband Eric; Scott Bellin and wife Michelle.  She also leaves her grandsons, her “six pack o’ boys” Matthew, Sam, Zachary, Jacob, Jordan and Daniel.  She was predeceased by her brother, Mark (Billy) Rosen. In addition, she had many nieces, nephews, cousins and lifelong friends with whom she shared wonderful life experiences. Brenda was born in Boston on December 31, 1939 to Sam and Eve Rosen.  She grew up in Newton and stayed active with her high school classmates and class reunions her whole life. She spent her summers in Casco, Maine, and this location served as a central focus in the life of both friends and family. Anyone who knew Brenda also knew of “Nana’s Lake Hotel.”  Brenda went to Boston University, where she studied business and met her husband, Ron. They married right after college and remained in Boston until moving to Framingham to raise their family.  Brenda always worked as an administrative secretary, only taking time off when her children were young and then stopping only when she became acutely ill. Anyone who knew Brenda will recall she loved hippos, playing cards, Mahjong, spending time with family and friends, and always finding ways to stay involved in the lives and interests of her six grandsons .

Funeral service on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018 at 2:00 pm at Sharon Memorial Park Chapel,40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA. Shiva will immediately follow the service at the home of her daughter, Paula, until 8:00 pm.  Shiva will also be on Monday from 2-4 and 6:30 – 8:30. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice. Finally, we want to thank all the wonderful caregivers we met while in the MICU at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.  Not only did they take amazing care of Brenda, but they also took care of her family.