Obituaries

Of Framingham, January 3, 2025. Beloved husband of Andrea Lee (Geller) Zalcman. Loving father of Suzzette (Neil) Freedlander and Dana (David) Schuman. Devoted grandfather of Carter and Emma Freedlander and Zev and Zane Schuman. Brother of Herb Zalcman. Funeral Service at Temple Israel of Natick, 145 Hartford St., Natick on Sunday, January 5, 2025 at 8:00 am. Burial at Sharon Memorial Park at 9:45 am. Shiva at the Zalcman residence Sunday 7-9 pm, Monday – Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 PM, Minyan at 7:30 pm. Morning Minyan Monday – Friday at 8:00 am. Remembrances in memory of Mel may be made to an Israeli charity of your choice or to a fund of your choice at Temple Israel of Natick.

A Link to view the livestream can be found here.

Emily (Binder) Blau, Age 79, of Norton, formerly of Sharon, entered rest on December 28, 2024. Beloved daughter of the late Charlotte (Sheingold) and Arthur Binder. Beloved wife of Sumner Blau. Devoted mother of Jennifer Schulman, Joshua and Erica Rattet. Stepmother to Curtis, Richard, Andrew, and the deceased Jeffrey Blau. Cherished grandmother of Jonah & Anna Schulman. Maxwell, Dylan, Brandon Rattet. Ryan & Mark Blau. Dear sister of Jane Streisfeld and her late husband Andrew. Beloved sister-in-law to Dennis and his late wife Marsha, and the deceased Stanley & Leonard Blau. Also survived by loving cousins, nieces and nephews. Services at Sharon Memorial Park Chapel on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at 10:00AM. Following Interment at Sharon Memorial Park, friends and family are invited to a reception at One Bistro at Four Point Sheraton, Norwood until 3pm. Remembrances may be made to New England Village and mailed to Development Dept., 664 School Street, Pembroke, MA 02359, or donate by phone at (781) 293-5461 x215.

Kenneth Berkowitz-Of Canton, on December 28, 2024. Service at Temple Sinai, 25 Canton St., Sharon, on Thursday, January 2, 2025 at 12 noon. Following interment at Sharon Memorial Park, a reception will be held at Temple Sinai until 4:00 p.m. and will resume Friday from 12:00-3:00 p.m. Remembrances may be made to Cops For Kids With Cancer, PO Box 850956, Braintree, MA 02185.

Eunice Bortman-On December 28, 2024.

A Link to view the Livestream Service can be found here.

Marilyn M. “Mickey” (Bornstein) Breslau, 89, of Chestnut Hill, MA, and Hull, MA (formerly of West Newton, MA, and Delray Beach, FL), passed away suddenly but peacefully surrounded by family and her devoted caretaker, Valerie Webbe. Born in Brighton, MA, to Anna Goldman and Joseph G. Bornstein, Mickey was the youngest of three daughters. She attended the Brighton, MA schools and studied at Emerson College.

Mickey was born prematurely on March 15, 1935, noting that she weighed just one pound and ten ounces, and never expected to live to the age that she did — a fact that she was always cognizant of and grateful for.

In 1961, she married Maxwell Breslau, and together they built a life filled with warmth, resilience, and family. Mickey gracefully stepped into a complex and evolving family dynamic, embracing her role as a devoted wife and mother to Max’s three older children whose mother had passed away. She and Max had two children and shared 37 years of marriage until his death in 1998. They made their home in West Newton, MA, where they raised their blended family.

She devoted herself to raising her young children, and as they grew older Mickey went to work at the Dow Jones Company and at The Gillette Company – where she enjoyed the camaraderie, friendships, and the contributions she made.

Summers at Nantasket Beach were a highlight of Mickey’s life for more than 55 years, where she delighted in creating lasting memories with her family. She loved to entertain guests on the porch, whether it was a planned gathering or just folks popping over for an impromptu visit.

Mickey had a unique sense of style, especially with fashion, and she loved to wear bright and colorful clothing. She was a voracious reader with a lifelong passion for all things artistic. A talented artist in her youth, Mickey later explored varied artistic pursuits such as bargello, glass beaded flowers, needlepoint, and other crafts. She also enjoyed lively games of Mah Jong with her friends, which brought her great joy — especially when she won!

Mickey’s life was a testament to resilience, having experienced difficult childhood years, a subsequent number of serious health challenges, and several tragic family losses. Her life was a testament to love, resilience, and creativity. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her, especially her beloved grandchildren who she loved endlessly and who will fondly remember her ear-shattering kisses.

Mickey is survived by her children: Howard and his wife, Jane, of Needham, MA, Ellen Breslau and her husband, Eric Leventhal, of New York City, daughter Jill Breslau of Palmdale, CA, and her daughter-in-law Carol Breslau (Robert z”l.) She was the proud “Bubbie” to her cherished grandchildren Mitchell and Max Breslau, Ava and Will Leventhal, and David and Laura Breslau, and “great-Bubbie” to her great-grandchildren Trevor and Sloane Breslau. Mickey was predeceased by her husband Maxwell (z”l), and their children Wendy Breslau (z”l) and Robert Breslau (z”l.) Mickey was the dear sister of Beverly Adel (z”l) and Roberta Myers (“z”l) and loving aunt to a number of nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will take place at the chapel at Sharon Memorial Park, 120 Canton Street, Sharon, MA  02067 on Sunday, December 29, 2024 at 1:00PM with burial to follow. Immediately following interment, all are invited to celebrate her life at her late residence through 8:00 pm with a shiva minyan at 7:30 pm. Shiva will continue at her late residence as noted below:

Monday, December 30 from 7:00-9:00 pm with minyan at 7:30 pm, Wednesday, January 1 from 7:00-9:00 pm with minyan at 7:30 pm, Thursday, January 2 from 7:00-9:00 pm with minyan at 7:30 pm

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mickey’s memory can be made to: Temple Israel, Hull, MA, or to a charity of your choice.

To view the livestream please click here.

Sylvia Cohen, of NewBridge on the Charles in Dedham, formerly of New York and Flemington, NJ, passed away on December 24, 2024. She was the daughter of Samuel and Victoria Wieder. Sister to Alvin, Mae and Evelyn. She was the loving wife to the late Arthur Cohen, and mother to Ann Sherman, and the late Denise and Lawrence Cohen.  Mother-in-law to Stephen Sherman, Lawrence Shapiro, and Robin Cohen.  Adoring grandmother to Geoffrey, Pam, Matthew, Vikki, Susan, Lee, Reed, Victoria and Aaron; great grandmother to Zachary, Ben, Ike, Jacob, Teddy, Alexander, Levi, and Maayan.

She worked at Rutgers Agricultural Extension Service for many years and was active and volunteered in many community organizations.  Sylvia loved to travel with her husband, Arthur, and enjoyed travelling the world. She also spent many happy hours at the 92 Street Y. Her legacy of compassion, leadership and adventure will be cherished by all her knew her.

Funeral Service on Sunday, January 5, 2025 at 1 PM in the Chapel at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St. Sharon, MA. Following the burial Shiva will take place at the home of Ann and Stephen Sherman until 7 PM. Remembrances may be made to JDRF@diabetes.org.

Barbara Weiner-On December 22, 2024.

To view the funeral service via livestream, please click here.

Stephen T. Kunian

A man of the modern Back Bay, Stephen Toby Kunian passed away with his family close by on December 20, 2024 at the age of 85.  He lived on Marlborough Street for almost 58 years, first in an apartment and then in a townhouse which he truly loved.  He participated in the updating of the Back Bay.  He was on the board of the Neighborhood Assn. of the Back Bay, the Back Bay Architectural Commission, and The Back Bay Garden Club (one of the first men to join). He was on the City of Boston Conservation Commission for more than 20 years.  Among the most important institutions to him were St. Botolph Club and The Boston Atheneum.

Stephen graduated from Phillips Academy, Amherst College, Harvard Law School and the London School of Economics. He was the son of the late David and Charlotte (Greenstein). He leaves his wife, Lois Rome Kunian, his sons and their families, Andrew and David Kunian & his wife Renee Bigelow, and their daughters, Charlotte & Leila.  He leaves his brother Dennis, his wife Janie, and family Danielle & Derek Wallis and children Sophia & Owen ,and Alexandra Kunian, and her daughters Zahra & Samira Nicola.  He also leaves his sister-in-law Ellen Rome, her husband Wayne Wibby, his niece and her husband Samantha and Brendan Kelley, and their children Liam, Graham, and Harrison.

Stephen practiced law for more than 50 years. He enjoyed his retirement sitting in his library with a Marlborough Street view and a glass of wine. He was an avid reader, a world traveler, a fan of classical music, and a connoisseur of Asian ceramics.  He will be missed for his wit and general good nature. Funeral service will be held at Temple Israel, 477 Longwood Ave., Boston, (parking on the Riverway) Monday, December 23, at 11:30 am. For those who wish to make a contribution in Stephen’s memory, please consider The Boston Athenaeum, The Emerald Necklace Conservancy, or Mother Caroline Academy and Education Center (MCAEC).

Beth S. Budd, December 20, 2024. Funeral service will be held at 1 pm, at Sharon Memorial Park Chapel, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA, Monday, December 23, 2024. Burial will follow.

To view livestream of funeral click here

Jacqueline Amy Miller was born to Dr Harold I Miller and Maida Rosenberg Miller on April 21, 1949. She attended Brookline High School and then matriculated at the University of California at Berkeley and Boston College Law School earning a Juris Doctor. She was a warm, brilliant, funny, quirky individual who left her mark wherever she traveled. She passed on December 18, 2024. She is survived by brothers, cousins, nieces and nephews. She will be buried at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham Street, Sharon, MA, on February 3, 2025, at 1:45 PM. Links for Zoom attendance will be made available.