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.