Obituaries

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Aaron Krug passed away unexpectedly at 51 years old on February 15, 2023. His family is deeply saddened and shocked by his sudden death.Aaron will be forever cherished and remembered by his wife Stacey, and his children, Hayden and Rowan. He is survived by his devoted parents, Shelley and Neil Krug; his loving sister Tracey and her husband Michael, and their children, Ethan and Brodey Kaplowitz.Aaron had many passions and excelled at all of them. Soccer, music, cooking, building and fixing anything you can imagine, and even gardening. Aaron was a free spirit, had a zest for life, and always made everyone laugh. He was his happiest with an animal in his arms. His greatest pride and joy were his two children.

Funeral Service at Butrimantzy Cemetery, 776 Baker St., West Roxbury, MA on Friday, February 17, 2023 at 2 pm. Following services a memorial observance will be held at the home of his parents Shelley and Neil Krug, 112 Damon Rd., Needham, MA and Saturday 7-9 pm. Minyan service Saturday at 7:30pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the MSPCA.

Donald “Donny” Kaplan passed away on February 15, 2023. He is survived by his longtime significant other, Lois Tabaczynski and his brother Edward and his wife Beverly. He was predeceased by his parents, Madeline and Joseph Kaplan as well as his sister, Nessie Baron and brother, Howard Kaplan.

Donny was born and raised in Waltham. He graduated from the Waltham Vocational School. He worked in the family business at Varney Printing on Charles Street. He was a longtime member of Temple Beth Israel.

Graveside services will be held on Sunday, February 19^th at 11:00am at Beth Israel Memorial Park, 190 South Street, Waltham.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Temple Beth Israel or the American Heart Association.

With great sadness, we say goodbye to Marilyn Krieger Gilden, just shy of 96, beloved wife of the late Irwin Gilden. She passed away on February 15th at home in Boston surrounded by her family.
Marilyn was the most loving Mom to her devoted daughters and their husbands, Susan and Robert Freedman, and David Freedman, and Shelley and Robert Fish. She was the beloved Goovey, and Grandma, to Alyson Freedman, Adam Freedman, Scott and Alli Fish, and Andrew Fish, and the Great Grandma to Finn Rowe Fish. She will also be remembered by Robert Freedman’s children and grandchildren.
Marilyn was predeceased by her adored brother, Maxwell Krieger, and leaves her sister-in-law Bette Krieger Halpert and her husband Jay Halpert, and her nieces and nephews and their families.
Marilyn was born in Far Rockaway, Long Island, the daughter of the late Saul and Ella Krieger. She studied retail at Ohio University with her best friend, Jeanne Mayer, enjoying sorority life to the fullest.
Marilyn and Irwin enjoyed trips to Europe and entertaining their friends, including playing golf and bridge. The beach was her happy place, whether on Long Island or at Dowses Beach in Osterville. She loved going for walks and picking up shells with her grandchildren.
She excelled at cooking for her family and was known for her delicious butter cookies, her unbeatable blintzes, and her Passover strawberry shortcake.
While not a skier herself, for many years she was a good sport to hold the table in the ski lodge. She will be remembered for her wise advice, generous spirit, and unconditional love for her family.
She had many physical challenges in recent years, but after losing her husband of 74 years exactly a month ago, her cardiologist believes she died of a broken heart. The end to a great love story.

Graveside services will be held on Sunday at 11:45 at Sharon Memorial Park. Shiva will be held Sunday following the service until 6 pm and Monday from 2-6 pm at the home of Susan and Robert Freedman.

Barbara J. Kaplan, of Framingham, on February 13, 2023. Beloved wife of the late Leonard Kaplan. Devoted mother of Ruth Kaplan and her husband John Daly Goodwin and Mark Kaplan and his wife Lisa Beaver Kaplan. Dear grandmother of Benjamin Kaplan.

Graveside services at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA on Thursday, February 16, 2023 at 12:45 pm. Memorial observance at Barbara’s home immediately following services.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances to the Framingham Public Library Foundation.

Stephen Halem of Newton, MA, passed away on February 13, 2023. Beloved husband of Lynne Halem.  Devoted father of Adam Halem and his wife Heather, and of Samantha Halem and her husband, David Himelfarb.  Proud grandfather of Maya, Jacob, Lucas, and Travis. Loving brother of Roberta Penchina and the late Richard Halem.

By profession, Steve was an oral surgeon, a 1966 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Forsyth Dental Institute and Harvard University and a postgraduate degree in periodontology from Tufts University.

Steve was deeply committed to research in the area of dental disease and to excellence in clinical practice.  He was beloved by his patients, who valued his gentleness and his endless stories to calm their nerves.  Most of all, they viewed him as a friend.

First and foremost, Steve was a family man.  To him, his family was the best, something he never hesitated to tell anyone who would listen to him.

Steve was loved and admired by all who knew him.  He was always ready to engage in conversation, lend a smile, or a helping hand.  His presence and kindness will be missed by all.

Steve retired in June of 2016 due to the early onset of Lewy Body Dementia. In lieu of flowers, donations in Steve’s memory may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association. Funeral services at Temple Shalom, 175 Temple St., West Newton, on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at 10 am. Following services, a memorial observance will be at the home of Lynne Halem, details provided at the service.

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Deborah Marlowe Hauser died peacefully at age 86 on February 11, 2023, after a period of declining health. She faced the end of her life as she did everything else, with grace and dignity. To the end, Deborah remained actively connected with and engaged in the lives of beloved family and friends.

Three generations of Deborah’s progeny will remember her with smiles. She and her husband Harry Hauser built their family and shared an almost-five-decade-long marriage, until his passing in 2003. Deborah often said she had wanted “four sons, four years apart” and indeed – from age 19 to 31, every four years – she and Harry welcomed their sons Mark, Joshua, Bradford and Matthew. Deborah appreciated her connection with the families of her sons and their wives, Andrea, Kate, Nurit and Susan, and felt blessed at each milestone reached by the grandchildren and great-grandchildren she had the pleasure of knowing: Jeff and George; Zach and Jake; Daniel (and his wife Einav), Jonathan, Tuvya, and Rachel; Ben and Alex; and Ariel, Yair and Lavi.

Deborah grew up in Brooklyn and Great Neck, New York. Her younger brother, Brian Marlowe, survives Deborah; their older sister, Nina Marlowe, predeceased her. As a child, Deborah was a disciplined student and a lover of books and art. Before she chose to defer her studies to begin her family, she was prepared to study Art History at Barnard College.

Deborah enjoyed a lifelong love of literature: she read avidly, recommended astutely, and supported public libraries everywhere she lived. She appreciated art and enthusiastically introduced her children and grandchildren to museums in Boston and New York. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum was a particular favorite. Over decades, Deborah created beautiful needlepoint works, many customized as special gifts for children and grandchildren. Deborah played the piano, attended the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s performances weekly for years and years, and had classical music playing in her home from dawn to dusk. She served many institutions, including Big Sister Boston, the Wang Center, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Temple Israel Sisterhood, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, where she was ultimately named an Adviser Emeritus.

Deborah was a beautiful woman at every age, and suffused her homes and endeavors with beauty, style, and elegance. With her green thumb, she nurtured plants with amazing results. Her gardenias bloomed year after year and she gifted generations of spider plants to family and friends. Her homes displayed her mindfully collected and curated art, furniture, and curios. Family and friends appreciated but could not match Deborah’s consistently conscientious correspondence; she kept postal services busy delivering notes and cards around the United States and to destinations in Canada and Israel.

Deborah participated actively in Jewish life, marking the weekly Sabbath, supporting numerous communities’ institutions, and engaging in lifelong learning. She loved to travel and her many journeys to Israel were among her favorites.

Deborah and Harry chose Newton, Massachusetts as a wonderful place to raise their sons. Later they enjoyed their Lake Winnipesaukee life together. Deborah was fortunate at age 70 to embark on her friendship with David Booth. In recent years, Deborah settled into a daily routine centering on caring for Gus (her Yorkshire Terrier) and Fred (her lovebird parrot) and, with David, dining at their favorite restaurants and exploring the New Hampshire and Maine coasts. Deborah and David shared 16 beautiful years of travel, adventure and companionship in and beyond Wolfeboro and Exeter, New Hampshire and David will feel her absence deeply.

In every endeavor, Deborah touched the lives of the people she met, sharing her friendship and love. Many more people than just her sons and grandchildren appreciated and benefited from her maternal love, support and wisdom. Deborah will be missed by family and uncountable friends.

Rest in peace, Deborah, Mom, Gram. We’ll all continue to love you “millions and billions”, x 4.

Services at 11:30 am Tuesday, February 14, Temple Emanuel, 385 Ward St, Newton Centre, MA., 02459. Burial at Temple Emeth Cemetery, 776 Baker St. West Roxbury. Shiva will follow the burial and be held at Temple Emanuel from 2pm – 5pm and on Wednesday and Thursday evening from 6pm – 8pm at the home of Dr. Mark and Andrea Hauser.

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Roberta “Bobbi” Arbetter, 88, of Chestnut Hill, MA, passed away on February 7, 2023, knowing that she was deeply loved and that her memory will be a blessing to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Bobbi was born to Morris and Betty (Berman) Feldman on March 3, 1934, as Roberta Sandra Feldman, in Boston, MA. She grew up in Brighton.  She graduated from Simmons College in 1955 with a major in social sciences and was involved with Hillel.

Bobbi was a highly competitive Bridge player, who enjoyed the game so much she even adopted “No Trump” as a political belief. She loved playing cards and did her best to teach bridge to her grandson, whom she hoped would still get the hang of it one day. Bobbi loved skating, tennis, bowling, traveling the world, and vacationing with her husband and children in Europe and the Pacific Rim. She was a loving and accepting grandmother who was always excited to cheer on her grandchildren in whatever new endeavor they took on.

She is predeceased by her late husband Albert, sister Ronnie, and stepdaughters, Jodi and Bunny. Bobbi is survived by her children, Stephen and Stacey, her grandchildren, Jennifer, Douglas, Samantha, Mia, Brady, Vinny,  great-grandchildren, Mackenzie and Rocco; and her best friends Marilyn Wolman, and Kaila Balder.

A graveside burial service will be held at Sharon Memorial Park, on February 10, 2023, at 10:45 am. If you wish to honor Bobbi’s memory, please consider a donation in her name to the Friends of Dana-Farber, 450 Brookline Ave., SW 120, Boston, MA  02215.

Saul J. Palder passed away peacefully on February 5, 2023 at age 96. Known to most people as Bubbles, Saul is survived by daughters Caron Palder (Ed Weiss) and Amy Palder (Christiane Palder-Levine), grandchildren William Weiss (Meagan McGee), Casey Weiss (Dylan Hercher) and was predeceased by his wife Rhoda Silver Palder. Saul was born in Boston, Massachusetts – a city that he loved passionately and where he resided the majority of his life.

Saul was a proud veteran of the Navy, serving in WW 2. He felt so strongly about serving his country he lied about his age so that he could enlist early. The youngest of 5 children, Saul stood out for his big personality. Quick with a joke and a twinkle in his eye, he was often the center of any gathering.

Saul graduated from the University of Miami where he playfully says he “majored in golf” and went into the family tire business. He was married to the beautiful Rhoda Silver and they remained married for 65 years. Saul always said that he was so lucky to have married Rhoda. She supported him devotedly throughout their life together. When the family business failed, they moved to Tucson, Arizona with their infant daughter, Caron. But Boston called him home and they returned after a short period of time. They moved into an area of Newton called Oak Hill Park which had been designed primarily for veterans and was a wonderful place for their children. A second daughter, Amy was born almost 7 years after Caron and all were delighted.

Throughout his life Saul was largely in businesses related to the automotive industry and met much success. He had his own tire business, a muffler business, bought and managed a large commercial building in Hyde Park, and supplied parts to thousands of muffler stores throughout the U.S. and Canada. Saul, always a thinker, began to try to create a better catalytic converter. While that invention did not come to fruition his true passion of creating a better mousetrap was born.

In his 70’s Saul obtained a patent for a product that became the “Smart Spin”, a divided lazy susan with containers that would neatly organize your cabinets. This product was brought to market by the “As Seen on TV” people and became the largest seller in their history. He was on the cover of “Inventor” magazine. He continued coming up with ideas throughout the rest of his life.

Saul and Rhoda traveled extensively and spent many winters in Puerto Rico at the Rio Mar Hotel. Saul became the “mayor” walking through the halls and being greeted by everyone.

Saul always liked to cook and had his specialties. His home fries were the best and he once brought his amazing clam chowder to Felicia’s restaurant in the North End for her to taste. She said it was really good. Saul and Rhoda were regulars in the Boston dining scene.  He just had to call and say “a table for Bubbles” and he got one.

Saul loved sports. He was a lifelong Red Sox fan and even had a try-out for the team. In later years he was most passionate about football and drove Amy and her wife Christiane crazy trying to find the Patriots game on TV in Atlanta.

Saul touched people in all facets of his life. He always wanted to be known as a mensch, and he will be remembered that way by many. He will be so very missed.

Services will be held on Friday, February 10,2023 at 11:30 AM at the Allen Center, 35 Webster Street, West Newton. In lieu of flowers, donations in Saul’s memory may be made to The Jimmy Fund.

Esther Epstein, of Newton, MA passed away February 5, 2023 surrounded by her loving family.

Esther was known to all as “Nana,” because anyone who entered her presence she immediately welcomed as family. She was the quintessential matriarch, who devoted her life to ensuring loved ones were happy, healthy, and most importantly, fed. If you were ever lucky enough to attend a holiday or event Nana hosted, you were no doubt amazed by the level of planning and preparation that went into every spread — from pots of her special sweet meatballs, to perfectly tender brisket, to delicious kugel, to her trays upon trays of the most spectacular cookies you’ve ever tasted. Nana was an overachiever when it came to hosting, and the end goal was always to create a special place where her family could convene, celebrate and enjoy each other’s company – ultimately forging an unbreakable bond between her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and anyone else who entered her home.

Beloved wife of the late David J. Epstein for 53 years. Dear daughter of the late Aaron Franklin and Anne (Granofsky) Franklin. Devoted mother of Sandra Hain and her husband Efraim, Linda Strand and her husband Michael, Andrew Epstein and his wife Lisa, and Jerold Epstein and his wife Jacqueline. Proud grandmother of Jessica, Rebekah, Avital, Elahd, Jennifer, Stephanie, Justin, and Alison. Loving sister of the late Sumner, Barbara, and David Franklin.

Services at the Chapel at Sharon ,Memorial Park 40 Dedham St., Sharon, MA on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at 10 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Esther’s memory may be made to Hebrew SeniorLife’s Hospice Care Program, Development Dept. 1200 Centre St., Boston, MA 02131, or a charity of your choice.

“Long story short,” Hedva Ann Kobes, March 20, 1947 – February 4, 2023, was an extraordinary wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and friend. She spent her life loving deeply, always fascinated by and bringing out the best in the people around her. She and her husband of 52 years, David Kobes, raised their family in Bethesda, MD and relocated to Brookline, MA in 2014 to share in raising their granddaughter.

Hedva engaged with the world with a fierce intelligence and gentle wit. Born to Robert and Jane Goldman and raised in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, she graduated as the valedictorian of the College of Education at Penn State University and earned her master’s degree in English Literature. In her career teaching English language learners at the City University of New York and as a leader at Junior Achievement of Greater Washington, she was committed to helping those disadvantaged by our systems. Her passion for politics centered on an insistence for expanding equity and justice.

With Hedva, family came first. She was always a teacher and guided her children to their full potential. Her family and friends cherish “safety mom’s” instructions such as “little bites and chew” or “there’s more than one way to skin a cat.”

Hedva is survived by her husband David Kobes, brother Michael Goldman, children Solomon Kobes and Deborah Kobes and their spouses Kimberly Kobes and Kenneth Avery, her grandchildren Jin Kobes and Eleanor (Laika) Kobes, and cousins Fern Indelicato and Lynn Landau and their families.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that contributions be made to Demos. A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, February 12, 2023 at 1:00pm at the Nathaniel Topliff Allen House, 35 Webster St., West Newton, MA. A reception will follow. The family requests that all attendees please be masked.

The memorial service will take place on March 20th at 1:30 pm at Congregation Beth El, 8215 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda, MD.