Ilene Epstein Leventhal

Author, Teacher, Charity Founder, Devoted Wife, Mother & Nana

Ilene Leventhal, 79, a loving and caring wife, daughter, mother, sister, nana and friend died peacefully of complications from dementia on May 8, 2025 at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. Born on November 20, 1945 and raised in the District of Columbia, Ilene had lived in Montgomery County, Maryland since 1969 after she married her loving and caring husband Norm Leventhal in June 1967.

Ilene was the beloved wife of Norm, her husband of 57 years, devoted mother of her dear children Lisa, Scott, Brian, Bonnie, and Shawn (all who live in the Washington, DC area), and doting and cherished Nana to her 5 wonderful and delightful grandchildren: Jaclyn, Cole, Camryn, Isaac and Todd. Ilene was the daughter of the late Rose and Julius Epstein, sister to Sydney Herman and the late Barbara Epstein, and cousin to the late Steve Friedlander, Arlene Friedlander and Phyllis Feder, whom she loved dearly.

Ilene attended Wilson High School and graduated from The American University in 1964 with a B.A. in Education. She had a varied and successful career teaching and authoring and publishing two books – "Extraordinary Women-Fantasies Revealed" (along with co-author and long-time friend, Francine Levinson) and "Don't Call Me Grandma." Ilene was involved in many philanthropies, giving back to her community throughout her life, but is most known as the Founder and Executive Director of "Hand to Hand," a charity she created in 1990 to feed and help the homeless and families at risk in the Washington, DC area. In recognition of her achievements and contributions, Montgomery County, Maryland proclaimed an "Ilene Leventhal Day," in 1998 she received the March of Dimes Mother of the Year award, and in 2000 Washingtonian Magazine declared her a Washingtonian of the Year.

Ilene's greatest passion in life, however, was her family. There is nothing she would not do for her family (and friends) and, in particular, when it came to her grandchildren. She was incredibly devoted to each of them and enjoyed many trips, outings, birthday celebrations, and holidays for which she was the consummate host and party planner. Ilene also loved their little Shih Tzu Charlie Brown who she and Norm had for 15 years.

Ilene had a long, productive and wonderful life and was especially grateful for the opportunity to travel and visit more than 60 countries on all seven continents. Norm and Ilene loved traveling together and with family and friends. They loved meeting new people everywhere they went. But their most rewarding trips were those with their kids and grandchildren to places near and far (including NYC, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, FL, as well as a Disney Cruise in 2010, St. Thomas, the Bahamas, Barbados, Morocco, Italy and London to name a few).

Ilene had a life well-lived full of love, compassion, and beauty. She will be sorely missed by all. Maya Angelou's famous quote summarizes Ilene's profound impact on her family and her community: "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

A memorial service to celebrate Ilene's life will be held on Monday, May 12, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Washington Hebrew Congregation in Washington, DC, with interment to follow at King David Memorial Gardens in Falls Church, VA.

Memorial contributions may be made in Ilene's honor to Teens with Heartsongs supporting Children's National Hospital at the following website:

(https://www.helpmakemiracles.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=4939).

Services entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care.