Nancy Levine

Nancy Jean Goodman Levine was born June 15, 1930 in Kansas City, Missouri; she died on March 30, 2026, age 95.

She lived most of her life in Bexley, with her husband Sydney, of blessed memory, who died in 2007. Nancy and Sydney were married in Columbus on December 12, 1953, until his death in 2007. She and Syd raised three devoted children, Michael/Mike (Jodi Brodsky) Levine of Omaha, Richard/Rick (Dana Blumenfeld) Levine of Bexley, and Susan/Suzy Levine of Columbus. Nancy and Syd were life-long members of Temple Israel and were married by Rabbi Folkman.

Nancy was grandmother/cheerleader to Arielle Levine (Kim) Levine of Minneapolis (daughter of Mike and Karin Amick Levine, of blessed memory), Talia Levine (Michael) David of Seattle, Roni Gal Levine of Columbus and, since January, great grandmother to Seraphina Larisa David (named for Larisa Blumenfeld, of blessed memory, Dana's mother), whom she would have been overjoyed to meet.

She was born to Eve Goodman (née Feerer) and Dave Goodman (known affectionately as Deema and Deempa, thanks to niece Laurie Goodman-it stuck forever). Nancy grew up in north Bexley with brother Jimmy (Howard) Goodman, of blessed memory.

Nancy befriended Joanie Charles, of blessed memory (who died only a month ago in Scottsdale), while studying at Ohio State in 1947. Nancy introduced Joanie to Jimmy.

They married in 1950. Joanie and Nancy were lifetime best friends.

Nancy is survived by her sister-in-law Reneé Katz Levine of Encinitas, CA, and loving nieces and nephews Laurie Goodman (Don Spetner), Debbie Goodman (Pat) Butler of Tucson, Shmuel/Steve (Sharone) Goodman, of Chicago, Marc Levine (Noreen Redding), of Ray, OH, Meryll (Chris) Page of Minneapolis, Chuck (Elisa Stancil) Levine of Glen Ellen, CA, and Leslie Levine (Harry) Adler of Porto, Portugal--and their many children and grandchildren.

She loved her life in Bexley. Her kids (and some of her grandchildren) attended the same high school that she attended, even with some of the same teachers. Her parents and Syd's parents lived nearby, along with many aunts, uncles and cousins. All holidays (Jewish and secular) were celebrated at the various homes with gusto, warmth, wonderful food, lively conversation, and lots of love. A bygone era that the entire family remembers fondly.

Nancy was ahead of her time in many ways. She was independent, traveling to Mexico for a semester while she was an OSU student (until she was overcome by her long, slow, agonizing, downward slide with dementia, she loved to recite her street address there in Spanish), She spent a year or so (as a single woman!) in Chicago with her special friend Marilyn Slesh Kaplin and Suzanne Treuhaft Cohn, studying at The Katharine Gibbs School.

She and Syd were also adventurous, traveling to Brazil, Africa, Europe, and Israel. They loved their adventures with special friends Jay Suiter and Skip Hershberger, and Anne and Kent Tarrier.

Nancy's passion was business. In the 1960's, she started selling Shaxted Linens out of her home, later expanding into stationery and gifts. Due to Bexley's home business rules, she, with Syd's help and encouragement, opened a store called Nancy's Stationery & Gifts at 2472 E. Main St. in Bexley, which became an institution. She and Syd later opened a second store in Upper Arlington at the Tremont Shopping Center. She kvelled when people would comment on the personalized gifts they received from Nancy's, or the fact that their wedding or Bar/Bat Mitzvah invitations came from the stores. The long run ended in 2006 with the sale of the Bexley store.

The Levine family wishes to express our sincere gratitude and thanks to the staff of Creekside at the Village and The Cottage, where she spent her final years. Special thanks also to the staff of Zusman Hospice.

Special heartfelt thanks to Weyah Kawah King, who was Nancy's devoted, conscientious, diligent, and loving guardian angel since 2018, and who also became Nancy's best friend. Weyah was always there; the words "no" or "not my job" were never in her vocabulary. Thanks to Weyah, Nancy's final years were as comfortable, safe, and happy as possible. As Nancy's condition worsened, Weyah's sister Miata Tata Kawah came into the picture, looking out and caring for Nancy with the same level of care, compassion, and diligence as Weyah. We are forever in your debt and could not thank both of you enough.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at Epstein Memorial Chapel, 3232 E. Main St., Columbus. Interment will follow at New Temple Israel Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the home of Dana and Rick Levine on Saturday, April 4, from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m., 2754 Bryden Rd., Bexley.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Nancy's memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Association of Central Ohio www.alz.org, or the charity of your choice.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84431567641?pwd=mGxeseyuqJDaRBfRbEoaCbfjfPPHbx.1