My cousin, Marlene, was a   beautiful baby, a beautiful little girl, and a beautiful woman.  Beautiful in the most extraordinary way including her face, her demeanor but mostly her loving kindness.    

I miss her very much.

I write this in loving memory of my beautiful cousin, Marlene, who left this world way too soon.   My memories of her from the date of her birth on August 15th  leave beautiful pictures in my heart.



My heart is broken!  So many wonderful memories.  There was no better friend than Marlene Levine.

We met as teachers many years ago and remained friends, confidants and   Paris/London travelers.  I will always remember her absolute  delight at seeing the Eiffel Tower from our hotel room,  So many trips to Westchester and Manhattan.  Then there were our shopping trips for "bargains" in Forest Hills.  Pure fun!

Marlene's love for David, Michael, Jordan and his family was fierce.  She so loved Roberta and Ivy and their families. 
 Family was the center of her life.  How grateful she was for their care and concern in her last days.

Marlene , my dear friend, may you find everlasting peace.   Deep is our loss.

I worked with Marlene in her later career at Grace Institute in Manhattan. Marlene was a funny (in a wry sort of way), dear, and very human colleague. In an often hard job with crazy demands, she navigated the line of bureaucracy and decency with skill, and I have respect and a warm place in my heart for her. May her memory be for a blessing. 

Marlene and I met over fifty years ago at PS 149 as new teachers. We socialized, celebrated happy occasions and played bridge together. Although I moved to central New Jersey we remained friends, seeing each other once or twice each year. Marlene was a most interesting and intelligent person. We had amazing conversations, visited museums or the theatre. She will be sorely missed. My condolences to Michael, Roberta, Ivy, and the rest of her loving family.

"On August 15, 1945, in what seemed like the middle of the night to an eight year old I heard bands playing in the street and car horns tooting loudly.  I also heard my mother excitedly shrieking "It's a girl !!  Sue and Mac have a baby girl!!"   I remember thinking how excited everyone must be to be celebrating this baby's arrival with music and marching in the street. Our familyâ€™s new baby girl! Of course, at my age, I would have no reason to know that that day was a celebration of the end of WWII.  All I knew was that I had a new GIRL cousin and so, I was very excited.

From the day she was born, my cousin, Marlene, was very beautiful inside and out and I loved her very much.   I remember her loving husband, David Levine, she lost way too soon. My heart is breaking for their son, Michael, whom she adored and of whom she was so proud.   Indeed, my own heart is shattered so I can only imagine what Marlene's two younger sisters, my cousins, Roberta Jean Kramer and Ivy Beth Gutman and their families are going through.

In synagogue, at a time like this, I hear the rabbi saying, "May her memory be for a blessing."   I must say,  I have never really gotten what that meant.  But, now I do.   Marlene, I'm so sad that I've lost you but your memory, for me, will always be for a blessing."


Marlene and I have been friends since high school.  I thank Marlene for so many wonderful memories.  She loved coming to our home in Minneapolis and at the lake in Northern Minnesota.  My photo of one of her visits here sits on my frig and  shows her sheer happiness .  She kept on saying to me when she saw Lake Superior, "Are you sure this is not an ocean!"  She remarked on loving to sit outside and hear the rustling of the trees.  Whenever I planned a NYC trip the first thing I did was to call her to check her calendar first.  Oh how I will miss our long talks that never tired of things to discuss.  I will miss her beautiful person.  My heart aches that I am not there for the funeral but it was not physically possible.  My thoughts and prayers will always be with Marlene in heaven and with Roberta, Ivy, Michael and the rest of the family.  Marlene, thank you for the many years of total joy together.

Although there’s another angel in heaven, today the world of Marlene’s family and friends grew dark.

Marlene & I were pals from seventh grade,  We attended Hunter High School and Queens College together.  Now and then we traveled together.  I was with her when she first met David.  We were the Marlene & Arlene duo.  

As I knew her, she generously shared opinions, fun, wisdom, a passion for teaching, laughter, and loyalty.

Her family was most precious to her.  David, Michael, Jordan, Ivy, Roberta & their families were the center of her universe.  She also enjoyed the company of many many friends and colleagues.   

As I say goodbye, I'm comforted -- confident she will rest in peace in Paradise.   


I WORKED  WITH  MARLENE AS A TEACHER IN P.S 149Q FOR MANY YEARS! SHE WAS ONE OF THE SMARTEST PEOPLE I HAVE EVER MET! WHEN IT CAME TO TEACHING THERE WERE NOT MANY THAT CAN HOLD A CANDLE TO HER! SHE WAS INDEED A LEADER WHO ALWAYS STOOD HER GROUND AND WOULD NOT GIVE INTO PRESSURE ESPECIALLY  WHEN SHE KNEW SHE WAS RIGHT, WHICH WAS MOST OF THE TIME! HER SON WAS HER LIFE WHICH SHE SHARED MANY WONDERFUL STORIES ABOUT HIM! HER FACE ALWAYS GLOWED WHEN SHE SPOKE OF HER SON! MARLENE MAY YOU REST IN PEACE! YOU WILL BE MISSED! G-D BLESS YOU! THE WORLD WILL NOT BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU IN IT! 

OBITUARY

Marlene Fields Levine

August 15, 1945 – May 28, 2019

Riverside Memorial Chapel

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