Levine Chapels

Historic funeral home with modern amenities

With its brick Colonial-style architecture, pristinely landscaped lawn and tasteful decor, our state-of-the-art funeral home facility is a beautiful and dignified place for honoring a loved one’s life.

The spacious funeral home has 2 chapels. The larger seats up to 350 guests, while our more intimate chapel seats 75. Both have modern audiovisual equipment. Beautiful amber-hued wooden pews and stained-glass windows in both chapels create a comfortable and inviting atmosphere.

The lobby and waiting room are other spaces where guests and family members can gather. With bay windows, fireplaces and classic furniture, these rooms are ideal spaces for sharing stories and reminiscing with family and friends.

Unique memorials

Not only are we experts in Jewish funeral traditions, we’re also able at create unique memorials that celebrate a person’s passions, personality and individuality. Whatever your vision (simple or elaborate), we are here to help. Of course, we can also accommodate those who prefer a more traditional religious service.

Lean on us

Since 2011, we have been a member of the Dignity Memorial® network of funeral and cremation providers, offering compassionate care and personalized service you can count on. And for your convenience, we offer transfers to anywhere in the world, including Israel.

Please visit us on Harvard Street to meet our caring associates and tour our exquisite funeral home facility. Call us for any reason at all. It is our privilege to serve you.

History

A pillar of the Jewish community of Greater Boston, Levine Chapels has a long and storied history. In 1893, Jacob Levine opened the funeral home on Salem Street in Boston's North End. As the business grew, Levine Chapels moved to Dorchester and, ultimately, the Coolidge Corner neighborhood of Brookline, where we’ve been since 1940.

What may surprise you is that our founder came from humble beginnings. He came to America with hardly a penny to his name and created a thriving business that is more than a century old. This is his incredible story.

Jacob Levine escapes from Belarus

In the 19th century, Jacob Levine fled from Belarus, which came under the influence of the Russian Empire and eventually under the control of the Soviet Union. Jacob, a devoutly religious Jew, ran for a number of reasons, not the least of which was his desire not to be conscripted into the Russian Army.

By shooting off half of his own right index finger, he rendered himself unable to pull the trigger of a rifle and thus unable to “join” the Russian Army.

From livery business to funeral home

Jacob arrived in the United States with little to nothing to his name. He settled in the West End of Boston, where there was a thriving Jewish community and several synagogues, married and fathered 6 children: Louis, Samuel, Henry, Mark, Edward and Ida.

He had a livery business and began to transport the deceased to area cemeteries. This was the beginning of Levine Funeral Home (now known as Levine Chapels).

Jacob became affiliated with Beth El of Dorchester (also known as the Fowler Street Shul), eventually rising to become the Shamash of the shul. As caretaker, Jacob became a prominent member of the Jewish community.

In the 1920s, Jacob moved his family to Dorchester, where he opened a new funeral home and charged his son Samuel with running it.

Decades of service to the Jewish community

Louis (the eldest of the 6 Levine children) established Levine Chapels in 1940 in Brookline to serve the growing Jewish population. Jacob and Samuel operated the location in Dorchester, while Mark and Henry worked out of Brookline.

Mark and Henry raised their families in the community and, like their father, were involved residents, joining the conservative and reformed congregations of Kehillath Israel, Ohabei Shalom, Temple Israel and Mishkan Tefila.

Ida (Jacob’s only daughter) lived on the 2nd floor of the Brookline funeral home and remained a devoted employee until she died. Barbara, Mark’s granddaughter, joined the team in 1983 and became the principal owner of the company. She was a joyful part of the Levine Chapels team until her death in 2011.

Barbara not only dedicated her time to the Jewish community but was also involved with numerous philanthropic organizations. For her, the heart always came before the business, and our staff continues to live by that spirit today.