Mabel Pulda

Mabel Pulda, 93, died peacefully on Saturday, August 23, surrounded by family members and friends. Mabel, known to all as Mary, experienced 93 years of life well and fully lived. She was the matriarch of a large and loving family that includes daughters Margery Blonder and her husband Fred, Elizabeth Tapper and her partner Peter Simkin, and Harriet Ben Ner and her husband Avner; sons Arnold and his wife Patricia, and Robert and his wife Kathy, her son-in-law Howard Rifkin, and her sister Carolyn Sumner. She is predeceased by her husband, Louis, and her daughter, Ruth. Mabel also had 15 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren, many nieces, grand-nieces, nephews, grand-nephews, and countless friends.

Mabel held strong views, values and steadfast principals, by which she influenced many and inspired others. She firmly believed in and lived her life according to democratic (with a small and capital D) and ethical beliefs, informed by modern Jewish and Zionist values and practices - principles and actions which she practiced consistently and inculcated in her family. Mabel was a committed political activist, an early and unswerving opponent of Richard Nixon, his ilk, and his cohorts.

Mabel was born in Brooklyn, NY, and moved with her parents, Harry and Minne Krepshan, sister, and brother Sidney to New Britain, CT. She graduated from New Britain State Teachers (now Central Connecticut State University) and became a teacher in elementary school until she married Louis and moved to Worcester in 1939. In Worcester she was an active and valued member and supporter of many civic, religious, and charitable organizations, including Hadassah, of which she was a Life Member and special honoree in 2005, Rachel's Table, the Worcester Public Library, past president of the Congregation Beth Israel Sisterhood, member of the Worcester Democratic City Committee, a volunteer in the Palliative Care Unit of UMass Hospital, and a volunteer Home Visitor for the Jewish Family Service. She was also a foster parent and host to friends and relatives; her dinner table was always open to guests and strangers. Through kind word and thoughtful intentional deed she had a salutary influence on the lives of countless family and friends near and far.

The funeral will be held at Congregation Beth Israel, Jamesbury Drive, at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, August 25. Memorial week observance will be held at the residence of Robert and Kathy Pulda, 6 St. Paul Drive, through Friday. Donations can be made to the Pulda Scholarship Fund, c/o Congregation Beth Israel, 15 Jamesbury Drive, Worcester, MA 01609 or Worcester Chapter Hadassah, c/o Harriet Tullman, 10 Maxdale Road, Worcester, MA 01602

Perlman Funeral Home, 1026 Main St., is in charge of the arrangements.