Grossman

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Grossman

Martha Grossman

May 30, 1920 —- October 14, 2022
Martha Grossman (nee Zemble) died peacefully at her home in Boca Raton, Fl, on October 14, 2022, at age 102. She was the beloved wife of the late Morris (Moishe) Grossman, loving mother of Howard (Susan Galante); Gerald; and Barry (Margarite); extremely proud and devoted grandmother of Jodi Woundy (Richard), Rachel Grossman (Teodoro Ortiz), Jeffrey Grossman, Max Grossman (Marissa), and Sam Grossman (Samantha); and an adoring great-grandmother of Jordan and Azlyn Grossman. She was also the much loved sister of the late Nettie Zemble Rafkin and the late Eli Zemble.

Martha was born on May 30, 1920. Her parents Simon and Jennie Zemble were recent immigrants to the United States who settled in the closely knit neighborhood of South Philadelphia. Their lives were hard not only because they were new to the U.S., but also because the country was soon to be ravaged by the Great Depression. Nevertheless, they managed to keep food on the table and raise Nettie, Martha, and Eli. Martha grew up to be an intelligent and resilient young woman who helped her immigrant parents navigate the complexities of life in the U.S.

Martha met Morris (Grossman at a dance and he was immediately smitten by her beauty, wit, and grace. After their marriage, they lived first in a small apartment above a storefront in South Philadelphia. Three years later, they bought a home in the Logan section of Philadelphia where, at first, Martha was saddened by being “so far” from her family and friends. She adjusted of course, and Morris and Martha raised Howard, Jerry, and Barry in a warm and nurturing environment.

During their long and happy marriage, Martha was a consummate homemaker, renowned cook, expert seamstress and, in her spare time, a self-taught pianist. Martha was also an essential contributor to Morris’s toy importing business. She traveled with him on business trips to Hong Kong and Japan and performed many administrative tasks for the business. After her sons were grown, Martha rejoined the workforce as secretary to Gloria Hochman, then the Communications Director for the Philadelphia Association for Jewish Children, an organization devoted to helping children in difficult family circumstances. Martha was a deeply empathetic person who was drawn to this mission. Martha was always proud of her work with Ms. Hochman, who later became an award-winning author and journalist.
In their early retirement years, Martha and Morris took courses at Penn State on subjects such as Current Events, Philosophy, Film Studies, and Psychology. Martha earned top grades and was praised by professors for her thoughtful essays and lively writing style. In the 1990s, Martha and Morris began spending winters in Boca Raton, FL, where Barry and Margarite had settled. They enjoyed the Florida lifestyle and, most importantly, being able to see Max and Sam grow up, as they were able to do with Jodi, Rachel, and Jeff, all of whom live in the Philadelphia area.

Throughout their 66 years of marriage, Martha and Morris were inseparable. When Morris passed in 2006, Martha’s sons worried how she would fare. Slowly, Martha built a life for herself. She formed a close bond with her “machtanista”, Betsy Galante, and Betsy, Howard and Susan went on many outings together, where Betsy especially appreciated Martha’s dry wit. Gerry took Martha to car shows, flea markets, restaurants, and rides in Bucks County. He once remarked that he never knew what a cool person she was until he spent time with her one-on-one. Martha also continued to spend winters in Florida, where she relished seeing Max and Sam graduate from college, embark on careers, and meet Marissa and Samantha.

In 2016, Martha moved into the Samuel Green House, an independent living senior housing complex in Elkins Park, Pa. There she met a whole new group of friends and was admired for her charm, engaging personality, and enduring fashion sense. She also reunited with a friend from her youth, Hilda Gecker, and together they enjoyed attending Rabbi Sandi Berliner’s services and lectures and participating in programs at nearby Salus University.
In 2020, Martha became a full-time Florida resident. While Martha’s mind was sharp until the end, she became increasingly frail physically. However, due to Barry and Margarite’s extraordinary care and devotion, she was able to remain in her own home until her passing. The family is forever grateful for the love and care that Barry and Margarite lavished on Martha.

When you met Martha, the first thing you noticed was her beauty, style, and remarkably youthful appearance. When she obtained her Florida ID card, the staff member could not believe she was as old as her birth certificate stated. She gathered other employees around as she took Martha’s photo. However, once you got to know Martha, you realized she was so much more than her pleasing appearance. At her core, she was an intelligent, talented, and compassionate woman who remained actively engaged with her family and the world until the end of her life. She was an inspiration to her family and friends and to all who knew her. She will be sorely missed.

Contributions in her memory may be made to the Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Greater Philadelphia, www.jfcsphilly.org.