Mrs Wendy Rabinowitz

Lenox, MA - Wendy Rabinowitz, 72, died Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at Berkshire Medical Center. Born on the South Side of Chicago on January 6, 1946 to the late Sam and Geraldine Bielsker Rabens, she attended North Shore High School, the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Art Institute of Chicago. Wendy was an artist, specializing in Judaic textiles, who exhibited her works through her business, Living Threads Judaica. Trained as a weaver, her artwork incorporated mixed media such as pottery shards, tree bark, and the metal in earrings "borrowed" from her daughters. Her art reflected a deep study of Torah - its lessons were truly alive for her, and her inner experience of the meaning of the Torah went beyond mere words. She wove these "living threads" into her inspiring pieces. Wendy was fearless in a rare way for a person with her sensitivities. She wove her feminism, humanism, and spirituality through everything she did, and had a heartfelt appreciation for the expression of the divine in many forms. She was passionate about activities performed to heal and repair the world, or tikkun olam; creating and maintaining deep friendships including hundreds that spanned decades; nourishing profound connections across her family, past and present; colorful, flowing clothing; bringing the arts to those with all abilities; "spice"-colored lipstick; showing up in ways big and small; blasting Paul Simon, Leonard Bernstein, Nina Simone, the Beatles, and klezmer music on all occasions whether appropriate or not; witnessing the love between her daughters as sisters and their children as cousins; cooking in her kitchen; Judy Chicago's the Dinner Party, Guys and Dolls the musical, and art museums, everywhere; being open to all emotions wherever and whenever; sending thank you notes to recognize small acts of kindness; allowing herself to grow and learn throughout her life; abundantly detailed list making; celebrating the Jewish holidays as if they were mini-theater productions; developing exclusive tastes for specific foods (including but certainly not limited to Concord grapes, Italian ices, green shakes and popcorn); acting zany, goofy, and impulsive; homebirth and breastfeeding; finding forgiveness both for herself and others; activism on behalf of the planet and marginalized communities; being a free spirit who relished breaking the rules; uncontrollable giggling at Toad's swimsuit in Frog and Toad Are Friends; kayaking on the Housatonic River; tchotchkes; and passing down family stories both profound and mundane, sorrowful and hilarious. She was married on September 24, 1989 to Jeffrey Borak at Temple Anshe Amunim in Pittsfield, MA. After 29 years of marriage, they were astonished at how fresh their love was each day. In addition to her husband, Wendy leaves a family who loves her fiercely, including her children, Sara Munson and her husband David Sagaties (Stone Ridge, NY) and Joanna Munson Perales and her husband Olegario Perales (Cheverly, MD); her grandchildren, Addysen and Jasper Sagaties and Pablo and Rafael Perales; her former husband and his wife, Doug and Toddy Munson (Richmond, MA) and family; her sister, Barbara Wenk (Chicago, IL); her cousins, Dr. Richard and Susan Rabens (Berkeley, CA) and Ronnie and Joyce Rabens (San Diego, CA) and their families; her nephews, Bill Zolla (Manchester, NH), Brett Zolla (St. Louis, MO), and Brad Zolla (Cincinnati, OH) and their families; and her cousin Wendy B.'s daughter, Tracy Donsky (Boston, MA) and family. With her passing, she joins her best friend, Joy Hopkins Hausman; her beloved parents, Sam and Geri Rabens; her husband's parents, Dr. David and Lilly Borak; her aunt and uncle, Dave and Bertha Rabens; her cousin, Wendy B. Arbit Hite; and her daughter's best friend, Emily Reid O'Conner. Part of her lives on through her tissue donation to New England Donor Services. Wendy's funeral will be held on Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 11:00 am at Temple Anshe Amunim, officiated by Rabbi Liz Hirsch, followed by a gravesite service at the Temple Anshe Amunim Cemetery (within Pittsfield Cemetery). A meal of consolation will follow at Temple Anshe Amunim. A minyan will be held at the family's home at 405 East New Lenox Road, Pittsfield, MA, at 6:00 pm on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday - December 16, 17, and 18, 2018, and shiva will be held on Monday and Tuesday, December 17-18, from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in Wendy's memory may be made to WAM Theatre, the Elizabeth Freeman Center, or 350.org, in care of the Roche Funeral Home, 120 Main Street, Lenox, MA 01240.

Mrs Wendy Rabinowitz

January 6, 1946 - December 11, 2018