Marilyn Bernard, age 94, of Newton, MA, formerly of Brookline, and Brooklyn, NY, loving wife, devoted mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed away peacefully surrounded by family in Newton, MA on January 20, 2024 after a long and fulfilling life.
Born in Far Rockaway, New York, to Max & Ella Frankel, she graduated Tilden High School in Brooklyn, NY, with several academic awards, and attended Brooklyn College. She worked as a dental assistant and legal assistant in New York before moving her family of five to Brookline in 1959. While raising her family, Marilyn devoted much of her time to friends, Jewish life, and her synagogue Temple Emeth. She became President of the Sisterhood, and headed a project to provide needlepoint artwork for the shul that is still in use. She was active in Hadassah and Brandeis University and was a New England branch officer of the Women’s League for Conservative Judaism. She was active as a philanthropist, frequently donating time and resources to various charities and causes. Her first priority always was her family and friends. She enjoyed playing mahjong and bridge for decades, and throughout her life enjoyed reading, music, Ikebana, theatre and the arts.
She is survived by her children, Madeline Teitelbaum & her husband Kenneth; Lawrence & his wife Amy, and their children Joshua & his wife Alexandra, Benjamin, and Daniel and great-grandchild Nico Melo Bernard. She was pre-deceased by her husband, Martin Bernard; sister Lillian (Frankel) Green; daughter Shelley Bernard; and grandson Steven Teitelbaum.
Funeral services were held on January 23.
Shiva at the home of Madeline & Kenneth Teitelbaum on Sunday, January 28 from 2-5pm.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to: Steven Teitelbaum Memorial Scholarship Fund, Attn: David Williams, Trustees of the Public Trust, Lexington Town Hall, 1625 Mass Ave., Lexington, MA 02420 or Alzheimer’s Association MA/NH Chapter, 309 Waverley Oaks Rd., Waltham, MA 02452, https://www.alz.org/manh
