Helen Chanée Aronson

Aronson, Helen Chanée (Fortgang), of Lexington, MA, formerly of Mt. Vernon, NY and New York City, passed away peacefully at the age of 96.

Beloved wife of the late Dr. Marvin L. Aronson with whom she enjoyed 62 years of marriage.

Devoted mother of David Aronson and his life partner Lynne Stern, and Ruth Aronson and her life partner Alan Silver.

Proud Grandmother of Joshua Aronson Basseches, Neil Aronson, Benjamin Aronson Basseches and Eileen Walz, and Claire Aronson.

Helen was predeceased by her sister Annette Zimmerman and her parents Abraham and Claire Fortgang. She leaves behind beloved family members, including her sister-in-law Toni Margolin, cousins in Israel, and cousins, nieces, and nephews, and friends and caregivers of all ages, who were inspired by her strength and kindness.

Born in Berlin, Germany in 1927, Helen’s life was disrupted in 1938 as she and her sister had to leave their parents to join their grandparents in Belgium in order to escape the Nazis. When their parents joined them, the family and other relatives embarked on a perilous journey from Belgium to France, where in June 1940 they received visas to Portugal from Aristides de Sousa Mendes, taking refuge there before sailing to New York in December 1940. Embracing her new country, Helen was educated in New York City, attending Julia Richman High School and New York University. Helen moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan where her husband, Marvin, was earning his Ph.D. in psychology at the University of Michigan. Returning to New York, Helen and her husband raised their children in Mt. Vernon, NY where Helen was a homemaker and a part-time interior decorator. With an extraordinary ability to understand and engage with people, she devoted herself to family, friends and community. In 2012, after the passing of her beloved husband, Helen relocated to Lexington, Massachusetts to be near her daughter and grandsons, and rebuilt her life at Brookhaven at Lexington.

Services at Temple Emunah, 9 Piper Road, Lexington MA at 11:00 a.m. on May 23, 2024.  Burial will be private for her family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Temple Emunah, 9 Piper Road, Lexington, MA 02421.