Marcia Kagan

My mother was the strongest person I have ever known.

She endured a very poor upbringing growing up in Brownsville in Brooklyn and had parents who lived a very scarred and fearful life having emigrated here. My grandparents Sol and Dora came from Poland.

She learned to endure her mother - a difficult personality- as they struggled to get by. My mom learned to deal - learning many valuable lessons which she brought to her own children.

In her Jewish school mom learned piano and Yiddish and later graduated Franklin K Lane HS in 1954.

But the pivotal moment of her life was on the steps of the JCH on Bay Parkway in Brooklyn where she met the dashing Alvin S Kagan. He would represent a new purpose in her life.

They married in 1956 starting a new branch on the tree of life, and soon had the rambunctious bundle named Hillary, followed by me.

While being a young mother, mom had to endure the loss of her Dad to cancer and had to provide emotional and financial support to her mother. This pattern of being stretched thin would continue as she was a very devoted daughter so she tried her very best to make it all work.

Mom began a career as a bookkeeper as it helped make ends meet for us while it opened an independent path for her to explore. She was extremely diligent in her job over the years leading to great trust and respect from her colleagues as it led to greater responsibilities and this was a source of pride for her and the family.

She went on to complete her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature at Hunter College in 1993 while working full time.

As hard as she worked outside our home she worked hard inside, being the most sensitive and caring mother to us , devoted wife, and grandmother with quiet grace and kindness to her incredible warm and loving grandchildren Kacey, Grant, Jessica, Kyle and Chad.

Though she fought osteoporosis and scoliosis, had to endure Lung cancer surgery and several bouts of pneumonia over a period of time, mom remained the strong center of the family taking care of dad , cooking delicious delicacies like flanken, kasha, brisket, all made with love. All the while she kept tabs on all of us.

Mom was dedicated to the whole extended family, always asking me about Lisa and the boys , always ending phone calls with “love to Lisa” .

She came to rely on Steve for so much and was always grateful for his help.

I regret her health problems prevented her from enjoying more quality time with the family but I know how deeply she loved all of us. While she is now bound up with the Lord , back with her parents, I know she will continue to look after us like an angel.