Marjorie Grodner Housen

Marjorie Grodner Housen passed away peacefully on May 6, 2026 at Devonshire in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. She was 90 years old, the daughter of Ceil Grodner Susnow z”l and Abraham Grodner z”l. She was pre-deceased by her brother Bruce Grodner. Marge was married for 64 years to her beloved husband Charley Housen z”l, who passed away in April 2020. She leaves her children, Deborah Housen-Couriel and husband, Lior Couriel of Israel, Phyllis Housen of Los Angeles, and Morris Housen and his partner Melissa Ellis of Boston; her six grandchildren Molly Housen, Ethan Housen, Romy Couriel and husband Shaked, Noam Couriel and his wife Shiri, Yair Couriel and Ely Couriel; as well as her great-grandson Naveh Couriel. She is also survived by her beloved sister-in-law Joanne Housen Rose of New York.

Marge was a woman of dedication and accomplishment. Throughout her life, she contributed generously to her family, her community, and all those around her, touching and enriching lives in both the United States and Israel and around the world. Moving from Brooklyn, NY to the rural town of Erving, MA following her marriage to Charley, she was determined to find an activity for her family to do together. This conviction turned into a lifetime of family skiing, every winter weekend and holiday, in Vermont, Colorado, and Europe. She was also an avid tennis player. Marge won many trophies for her own downhill skiing, but it might have been the apres ski and apres tennis socializing that turned these into her lifelong avocations.

As a mother, Marge always showed her family what was possible. She traveled the world and brought back stories that inspired them. Her community involvement showed her family the importance of committing to those around them and to give of themselves.

For many decades she served as a leader and member of the national leadership of the Hadassah Women’s Organization, was an active participant for years in Franklin County’s United Way campaigns, and joined Charley (also for decades) in leadership roles in Young Presidents’ Organization. Marge was a 1956 graduate of Brandeis University, playing on their inaugural women’s basketball team and serving as a dedicated and active alumna throughout her life and chairing every one of her class reunions since graduation. Brandeis honored her in July 2025, in her 90th year, with the prestigious award for Service to the Alumni Association.

A service will be held at 10am on Monday, May 11 at the Stanetsky Memorial Chapel in Brookline Massachusetts, prior to her burial in the Erving Town Cemetery next to her husband Charley.

In lieu of flowers, contributions honoring Marge’s memory may be made to Hadassah or Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston.

May her memory be a blessing.

Marjorie Mildred Grodner Housen

May 29, 1935 - May 6, 2026

Erving Town Cemetery

May 11, 2026

(1) Responsive reading of Psalms for Mom’s Hebrew name, Mashe Mindl – Ethan Housen

M - May G-d arise and lift up his hands to protect those who are in need. (Ps. 10(12))

A - Ask of the Lord, and he will allow the peoples of the world to ear, and all the inhabitants of the earth to receive wisdom. (Ps. 2(8)) S - Salvation is given to us by G-d; may all people be given this blessing. (Ps.3(9))

H - Happy are those who ignore the counsel of the wicked, who have not met evil standing in their path, nor sat in the seat of the those who hate. (Ps. 1(1))

E - Exultation is for all those who take refuge in You, they shall shout for joy and in thanks for your sheltering of them in their need. (Ps. 5(12))

M - My G-d, judge me according to my acts of righteousness, and according to the integrity that is in me. (Ps. 26(11))

I - In peace I both lay me down now and I sleep; for You, oh Lord, protect

me even though I am alone. (Ps. 4(9))

N - Now be wise, O ye kings, and be admonished ye judges of the earth; serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice in G-d. (Ps. 2(10))

D - Deliver me the knowledge of the good path of life. (Ps. 16 (11)).

L - Lead me in Thy righteousness oh G-d, and protect me from those who lie in wait for me along the path; make Your way straight before my eyes all the days of my life. (Ps. 5(9))

(2) El Maleh Rachamim – G-d of Compassion - all read together.

O God, full of compassion, Thou who dwellest on high! Grant perfect rest beneath the sheltering wings of Thy presence, among the holy and pure who shine as the brightness on the heavens, unto the soul of Mashe Mindel the daughter of Tsiril (Ceil) and Avraham who has gone unto eternity, and in whose memory charity and goodness is offered. May her repose and rest be in paradise. May the Lord of Mercy bring her under the cover of His wings forever, and may her soul be bound up in the bond of eternal life. May the Lord be her inheritance, and may she rest in peace. Amen.

In Hebrew

אֵל מָלֵא רַחֲמִים שׁוֹכֵן בַּמְּרוֹמִים, הַמְצֵא מְנוּחָה נְכוֹנָה עַל כַּנְפֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה בְּמַעֲלַת

קְדוֹשִׁים וּטְהוֹרִים כְּזֹהַר הָרָקִיעַ מַזְהִירִים אֶת נִשְׁמַת מאשה מינדל בת ציריל ואברהם

ֶׁהָלַכה לְעוֹלָמ ה, בְּגַן עֵדֶן תְּהֵא מְנוּחָתה. אָנָּא בַּעַל הָרַחֲמִים יַסְתִּירֵהה בְּסֵתֶר כְּנָפָיו

לְעוֹלָמִים, וְיִצְרוֹר בִּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּים אֶת נִשְׁמָתה. יְיָ הוּא נַחֲלָתה, וְתנוּחַ עַל מִשְׁכָּבה

בְּשָׁלוֹם. וְנאֹמַר אָמֵן.

Transliteration

El Maleh Rakhamim, shokhein bamoromim, hamtzei menukhah al kanfei hashekhinah b’ma’alot kedoshim u’tehorim k’zohar harakiyah mazhirim et nishmat Mashe Mindl bat Tsiril v’Avraham, shehalakha l’olama, b’gan eden t’hei menuchata. Ana ba’al harakhamim yastireiha b’seiter k’nafav l’olamim vitzror b’tzror hayim et nishmata. Adonai hu nakhalata, v’yanukha al mishkava b’shalom. V’nomar amen.

(4) The Burial – all may take part following the family’s placing of soil on the grave.

(5) Mourner’s Kaddish- recited by the mourners.

Transliteration

Yitgadal v’yitkadash sh’mei raba b’alma di-v’ra

chirutei, v’yamlich malchutei b’chayeichon

uvyomeichon uvchayei d’chol beit yisrael, ba’agala

uvizman kariv, v’im’ru: “amen.”

Y’hei sh’mei raba m’varach l’alam ul’almei almaya.

Yitbarach v’yishtabach, v’yitpa’ar v’yitromam

יתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא

. [ [אמן]

מַלְכוּתֵהּ בְּחַיֵּיכון וּבְיומֵיכון וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל בֵּית יִשרָאֵל 􁂪 בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ וְיַמְלִי

בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן. [אמן]

לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא 􁂪 יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַ

: וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרומַם וְיִתְנשַּא וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלּהֶ וְיִתְהַלּלָ שְׁמֵהּ דְּקֻדְשָׁא. 􁂪 יִתְבָּרַ

ה וּא]. 􁂪 [בְּ רִי

לעְֵלּאָ לעְֵלּאָ מִכּלָ ברכתך ושְִׁירתָאָ, תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָ א, ואְמְִרוּ

אמֵָן

[אמן].

יְהֵא שְׁלָמָא רַבָּא מִן שְׁמַיָּא וְחַיִּים עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן

: [ קהל

: אמן

] עושה שָׁלום בעשי

”ת: הַשָּׁלו ם בִּמְרומָיו הוּא יַעֲשה שָׁלום עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל

ואְמְִרוּ אמָןֵ

[אמן] .

v’yitnaseh, v’yithadar v’yit’aleh v’yit’halal sh’mei

d’kud’sha, b’rich hu,

L’eila u’ leila min-kol-birchata v’shirata, tushb’chata

v’nechemata da’amiran b’alma, v’im’ru: “amen.”

Y’hei shlama raba min-sh’maya v’chayim aleinu

v’al-kol-yisrael, v’im’ru: “amen.”

Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu

v’al kol-yisrael, v’imru: “amen.”

In English

Glorified and sanctified be God’s great name throughout the world which He has created according to His will. May He establish His kingdom in your lifetime and during your days, and within the life of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon; and say, Amen. May His great name be blessed forever and to all eternity. Blessed and praised, glorified and exalted, extolled and honored, adored and lauded be the name of the Holy One, blessed be He,beyond all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations that are ever spoken in the world; and say, Amen. May there be abundant peace from heaven, and life, for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen. He who creates peace in His celestial heights, may He

create peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.

(6) Psalm 23 – Please recite together to conclude the service.

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

He leads me beside the still waters.

He revives my soul;

He guides me on paths of righteousness for His glory.

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I fear no harm, fFor you are with me.

Your rod and your staff do comfort me.

You set a table in sight of my enemies;

You anoint my head with rich oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

And I shall abide in the house of the Lord for ever. Amen.

ברוך דיין האמת.

May the Judge of truth be blessed.

Mom's Eulogy, by Morris Housen

Our mother, Marjorie Grodner Housen, lived a life that was both elegant and deeply engaged with the world.

She was born in Brooklyn, NY and she carried Brooklyn with her always — through her intelligence, her curiosity, her directness, and her love of conversation. She attended James Madison High School and went on to Brandeis University, graduating in 1956.

And she never really stopped talking about her wonder years at James Madison High School.

She loved to remind us about all of the famous people who graduated from her high school — Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Bernie Sanders, Judge Judy… In fact, anyone who has been at the Lakehouse for brunch on the deck has been cornered by my mom and has heard over and over about the people who graduated from James Madison High School.

When Mom got to Brandeis in 1956, she was part of something new. She played on the university’s first women’s basketball team — at a time when those opportunities were not a given. It wasn’t about recognition. It was just who she was: someone who stepped into the world fully, without waiting for permission.

Just last year, Brandeis honored her with the 2025 Service to the Alumni Association Award. She was a Brandeis volunteer for 60 years, chairing every single one of her class reunions. She also held leadership roles at Brandeis - the Board of Trustees, the Board of Fellows, the National Executive Committee of the Brandeis National Committee, and the Women’s and Gender Studies Program Board.

She also spent decades as a dedicated Hadassah volunteer, serving on the Hadassah National Board and taking many trips to Israel, both with Hadassah and as a grandmother to 4 Israeli grandchildren, Romy, Noam, Yair and Ely.

Her 2 New England grandchildren, Ethan and Molly, saw her a lot more often.

When she married our father, Charley, they moved to Erving — a place where, as many of you know, there wasn’t exactly a lot going on… unless you were into hunting, fishing or paper-making.

And my mother, who had grown up in Brooklyn, adjusted… in her own way.

During hunting season, she would send my sisters and me out to play in the woods… wearing light brown shirts. Not blaze orange. Not anything especially visible . . . Light brown.

At the time, we didn’t question it. Looking back… we probably should have.

But that was her — confident and never particularly worried about what might possibly go wrong.

She built a life in Erving with us, centered on family, community, and staying engaged with the world.

You could often spot her driving around town and back and forth to Greenfield, MA in her orange Volvo station wagon — which somehow managed to be both completely practical and completely unmistakable at the same time.

Mom believed strongly in doing things together as a family. And nothing expressed that more than skiing.

Every single winter weekend and holiday, we were skiing. That was the plan she had laid out and that was what we did. We would load up the car on Friday evening, drive to the Andirons in Wilmington, Vermont and ski at Haystack as a family . . . first chair to last chair. Dining at Haystack was another thing entirely. Classic Marge, she would bring packets of dried soup and a gallon of boiling water from home. While everyone else enjoyed fare from the lodge cafeteria, we had our own system — efficient, prepared, and, in her mind, much better.

It wasn’t about luxury. It was about being together, being organized, and making it all work. Later on, Mom and Dad bought a ski in / ski out house at Bromley and this house was always full of family friends and apres ski parties. Always the athlete, Mom kept a trophy case full of ski race medals and awards that she had won. We continued that family tradition until we had all left for college.

She also had her own rhythms and passions. She played tennis in Greenfield. She liked to stay active, to be out, to be part of things. And she loved the theater.

She would take us into New York City to see musicals — giving us those experiences, opening that world to us. But she was never a theater snob. She would go see live theater anywhere and everywhere. For her, it wasn’t about prestige — it was about the joy of it.

And in her own way, she didn’t just attend the theater — she added to it.

One of her superpowers was writing lyrics to show tunes. Anytime she was going to a friend’s birthday, an anniversary, or any kind of celebration, she would take a few minutes and write a perfectly rhymed, perfectly tailored song — set to the tune of Oklahoma or My Fair Lady or any of the other countless tunes that she kept in her head.

And she always got it exactly right.

She gave much of her time to volunteer work, especially through Hadassah, which was very important to her. She didn’t just participate — she showed up fully, with commitment, intelligence, and care.

She and Dad were also very active in YPO and traveled the world together, both learning throughout their travels. I think she was most proud of the time when she and our Dad championed the first ever, international YPO family university in Disney World. For those of you unfamiliar with this concept, imagine putting together 5 days of breakfast, lunch and dinner, full days of educational programming plus all day entertainment for 120 families of all ages. As a volunteer. And she loved it.

And Mom read constantly. She was always in the middle of a book — always thinking, always engaged. In fact, she was in the middle of a book right up until the end. I have proof. The last 10 photos that her aide sent to me from Florida to show me how my mom was doing, she had a book in her lap. She was sharp and smart and quick-witted — something anyone who ever played Scrabble with her, or before that Perquackey, or sat across from her at a Bridge table already knew.

Like many Jewish mothers, she carried so much inside her — pride, opinions, strength, and a deep love for her family.

In Jewish tradition, we are taught that a person lives on through the values they pass forward and the lives they shape.

Our mother’s legacy is one of engagement — with her family, with people, with ideas, with the world. She taught us to be present, to stay curious, to be involved, and to do things together.

We will miss her voice. We will miss her presence. We will miss her deeply.

May her memory be a blessing.

FROM LIOR COURIEL – MARGE’S SON-IN-LAW

Marge ,

When we met this past February for the last time, the final words I said to you before leaving were: “I could not possibly have wished for a better mother-in-law.” Today, I stand behind those words more strongly than ever. Through every chapter of our lives, you were

always there for us — with unwavering love, generosity, wisdom, and devotion.

Your deep love for our family, your kindness, your dignity, and your caring heart will remain with us always. You gave so much of yourself to the people you loved, and your presence enriched our lives in countless ways.

We will make sure that Naveh, your first great-grandchild, will know much about you, your life, and the beautiful legacy you leave behind.

Rest in peace. You will always hold a special place in our hearts, and we will remember you with love, gratitude, and admiration for the rest of our lives.

FROM MARGE’S ISRAELI GRANDCHILDREN – ROMY, NOAM, YAIR, ELY

Dear Grandma Marge,

Many people use the phrase "out of sight, out of mind".

Those people have never been your grandchildren from Israel.

We may have lived a bit farther off than the average grandchild,

but your love and dedication had a way of finding its way on-and-off planes;

sending birthday cards when we couldn't celebrate together;

and re-enacting a modern Atlantic-sea-crossing for many Passover Seder's, second only to the original.

Growing up, we had a very clear and regulated "summer procedure" –

come August we'd land in Boston, meet you and Charlipa at the baggage claim at Logan airport and then proceed to be spoiled rotten by you for a whole month.

The Lake at Erving State Forest, our family home, was the backdrop of many joint adventures.

As children we knew your favorite "adventures" bore more of a tidying-up energy: calming the chaos in the ever-bustling kitchen, making sure we didn't sit our wet bathing suits on the indoor couches,

and sorting the indoor shower towels vs the beach towels.

Although most of our adventures were a bit more rugged, we found common ground with family flotillas, baking banana bread, or heading to musicals and plays.

You taught us so much through the years by example and by hard scholarly dedication:

Starting with tableside manners (Noam and Romy will always remember being smuggled into a manners course for children).

Continuing with civil engagement through Hadassa, YPO, Brandeis and so many more.

And ending with the beautiful balance you seemed to achieve between all that is right and all that is fun to do in this life.

We are so happy to have been part of your world, we love you,

Romy, Noam, Yair, Ely