Muriel Benzer Freed

Our beloved grandmother Muriel Benzer Freed passed away in her sleep on Friday March 12, 2010 with her family present. She is survived by her children; daughter Andrea, son Burt and daughter in law Sharon and five grandchildren and one great grandchild. Daughter of Andrea; Holly; children of Burt and Sharon Friedman; Joshua and his wife Courtney with great-granddaughter Kurry, Jacob and his wife Kimberly, Jeremiah Robert "J.R", and Aliza Rose. Muriel Benzer Freed was born Muriel Benzer on August 24, 1923 in Bronx, New York to Luis and Rose Benzer and younger sister to Harold Benzer. The Benzer's moved to Brooklyn where Luis worked as a milliner. The Benzer's were a Conservative Jewish family although later in life Muriel chose to be Reformed. Muriel was an accomplished cook and baker by the time she was 14 years of age. At 17 she single handedly catered; cooked and baked for her parent's 25th anniversary party. October 10th, 1942 at nineteen years old, she married Martin Friedman in a traditional Jewish ceremony in the presence of family and friends. October 19th, 1945 Muriel and Marty had their first child, a daughter, Andrea Suzanne and on August 31, 1952 they had their second and final child, a son Burt Steven. Martin was a WWII veteran and went to Columbia University after Marty graduated in 1950 the family moved to Queens where they lived for the next 20 years. In 1971 the family moved from New York to Texas. From 1977-1980 Muriel worked for Casual Corner in Houston, Texas. In 1978 she was named the number one top sales person in the entire company and was awarded a plaque and a gold and diamond necklace for her accomplishments. Muriel was a beautiful woman with a big personality in the way she dressed and the way she carried herself. Muriel enjoyed hosting and cooking for her many friends and family she was always surrounded by love. She was a one of a kind original who was a free spirit; known as feisty, sharp and hilarious. Muriel was a very well liked woman with an open and giving heart. Grahams (as we called her) enjoyed watching movies, mysteries, going to the theater, talking politics, playing games with friends/ family, and being out and about. In her later years she enjoyed time outside at the gazebo where she lived and spending time with close loved ones. Muriel was a straight shooter who always told it like it was. She devoted her entire life to her family and always gave 110% to everything she did. Muriel's passing is a tremendous loss for our family and she will be missed immensely.