Berta Ann (Brooks) Axelrad

Berta Ann Brooks Axelrad, 84, originally from Brookline, Massachusetts and the beloved wife of Albert S. Axelrad for 63 years, passed away peacefully on the morning of Sunday, December 1, 2024 surrounded by her close and loving family. Berta was a nurturing and compassionate mother and friend to her four children, Marcy, Robin, David, and Tamar and their respective partners, Rob, Mike (MK), Kristin, and Mike. She was a fun and relentlessly adoring grandmother to Selah, Aliya, Adam, and Jordan.

Berta attended Barnard College, and studied to become a high school math teacher. She worked tirelessly on behalf of hundreds of students during her 25 years of service in the Brookline Public Schools, and she was a pioneer in supporting a successful program called Opportunity for Change that reached the more at-risk students at Brookline High School.

Berta enjoyed spending time with her family and close friends from her childhood, from work and beyond. She always filled the room with kindness and laughter with her warmth, sense of humor and welcoming nature. Berta always wanted to make people feel accepted in her presence. She enjoyed playing the piano, taking care of her dogs, dancing, listening to music, the ocean, working out religiously at the gym, watching her kids and grandkids play sports and perform in shows and dance recitals, eating endless amounts of chocolate ice cream and watching Perry Mason and Murder She Wrote. Berta was always full of love, encouragement, friendship, humor and guided us all with the mindset of “everything will be ok”. In this spirit of kindness and healing, the family encourages donations to be made in Berta’s honor to the School on Wheels of Massachusetts.

There will be a short private burial and ceremony held in Waltham on December 8, followed by one evening of Shiva where we welcome all friends from 4-9 pm on Sunday, December 8th at the home of her daughter and son-in-law Tamar Axelrad and Mike Ecola, at 10 Ocean Ave, Apartment 309, Revere, Massachusetts 02151.