Rhoda Levine

Rhoda Levine, 96, of Pembroke Pines, Florida, formerly of Framingham, Massachusetts, passed away on Friday, June 2, 2023. Born in New York City, NY, Rhoda met her beloved husband Nathan in 1943 at a friend's sweet 16 party. It was truly an enchanted evening. They married in 1944 and over the course of more than 76 years of marriage raised seven children and welcomed 14 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren and countless friends into the family. Together they spread an umbrella of love over so many people. The two of them were well known in the family for acquiring new best friends wherever they went in their many travels and in their day to day living.

Rhoda was active in her synagogue, Sisterhood, and in the school Parent Teacher Associations. Over time Rhoda also took on small at-home jobs for extra money for special purchases. She volunteered to provide physical therapy ‘patterning’ to a child in need. Along with Dad, Mom was a teacher's aide at an elementary school where they lived. How the students loved them. She was a highly accomplished knitter—knitting for family, for friends’ children and grandchildren, for her daughters’ dolls, and for the grandchildren of her dentist, just to name a few! Her beautiful “Grammy Rhoda Baby Sweaters'' went to so many who cherished them. Her sewing was darn good, too. Her family has fond memories of her food specialties, such as kugel, blintzes, strawberry shortcake, and, of course, chicken soup.

Rhoda and her beloved Nate were longtime members of Temple Israel of Natick and later, after they moved to Florida, of Village Reform Congregation of Pembroke Pines. In Florida, Rhoda enjoyed lifelong learning at different classes at various venues. Rhoda embraced technology, from an early WebTV that she used for email, through several different laptops, and through flip phones and smartphones. She also embraced the voice-activated remote control, so that she could enjoy her favorite TV shows at night, such as “Mash”. And she loved Zoom because it kept her connected with so many people and events.

Rhoda, along with Nate, loved traveling, from summer road trips with the kids (and grandkids) up and down the east coast to international trips to Israel, Europe, Mexico, and the Caribbean, to trips around the country to explore the U.S. and visit family and friends. Throughout her travels she enjoyed the opportunity to make new friends who could become a part of their extended family.

Rhoda was a woman who was full of love and whose world was expansive. She welcomed everyone into her world--immediate family, distant family, in-laws, friends of family, family of friends, friends of friends, neighbors, clerks, servers, bus drivers--she shared her stories of life and family with everyone. To use some of the amazing tributes from those who loved her--Rhoda was an absolute legend who made everyone feel so special--Rhoda was open-minded, kind, beautiful, smart and non judgmental. She was beautiful inside and out and could captivate you with her many stories and life’s lessons. Her heart was enormous and her great love was always returned by family, friends, neighbors, and total strangers fortunate enough to have met her. For her children, she was Mom who was all this and so much more.

Rhoda is survived by her children Iris Finkelstein (Leo), Carol Levine (Paul Janocha), Linda Levine (Tom Kenney), Gary Levine (Debbie), Allan Levine (Rachel Dvoretzky), Sharon Levine (Sally Hill) and Mark Levine (Vanessa), along with more than 30 grand-, great-grand-, and great-great-grand children, nephews and nieces.

The funeral for Rhoda will be at Temple Israel in Natick (145 Hartford St.) at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, June 8th. The service will be livestreamed by the temple at the following link: www.tinyurl.com/RhodaLevine

She will be laid to rest after the service at the Framingham-Natick Jewish Cemetery in Natick, MA. After Rhoda is laid to rest the family welcomes you to join them at Linda Levine and Tom Kenney’s home in Framingham. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Nathan and Rhoda Levine Scholarship Fund at Temple Israel in Natick, MA, or to a charity of your choice.