Pauline Grabel, active until the end

Pauline Grabel, 91, widow of Ben Grabel, passed from the loving arms of her family and friends, Saturday, June 1, 2013.  A Brooklyn, N.Y. native, she had lived for over 35 years in Florida. However, last August, she came to live in Milton, with her daughter Shelley and her daughter-in-law Brenda.

Pauline, although physically weak, still enjoyed the many activities available to her here in her new home in Delaware.  The many people who met her and who became her friends knew what a wonderful joy she was to know.  She touched many and enjoyed much.

Pauline’s greatest joy was doing ceramics, and many people were blessed with gifts from the “love Pauline” assortment.  And we, her family, got the very special “love Mom” collection.  She took great pride in the work she did for those in need, such as the children undergoing chemo who needed decorated caps to wear over their rapidly balding heads.  She also, until age denied her the pleasure, drove elderly and sick patients to their doctor's appointments.

Whenever or wherever some needed her, she was there. And you could always hear the click of the mahjong tiles combined with her laughter when she engaged in her favorite game.

Pauline was known for her ability to remember and to tell jokes. Even coming home from the hospital last week, she entertained the attendants with her repertoire of decent and indecent funny stories. She will long be remembered by those who had the pleasure of knowing her, and she will be missed.

Pauline is survived by her daughter, Shelley Grabel; her daughter-in-law, Brenda Sims; and her son David Grabel and his wife Mona who live in Lexington, Mass.  Her pride and joys were her granddaughters, Amanda and Brittany Grabel.  She also leaves behind her sister Sheri Blasberg of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; and a brother Eddie and his wife Honey, who live in Silver Spring, Md.

Seeing her successful family allowed Pauline to feel the pride one has in knowing that she had done such a good job as a mother and lifelong friend.  She will be sadly missed by all who knew her.

She was buried next to her loving husband Ben at the Star of David Cemetery in West Palm Beach, Fla., Tuesday, June 4. A celebration of her life will be held in the near future.