Regina Gittes Greenspun Eulogy

It’s been a year since my mother died (obituary). From the October 5, 2025 placement of ashes.

Kel Maleh Rachamim

O God, full of compassion, Thou who dwellest on high! Grant perfect rest beneath the sheltering wings of Thy presence, among the holy and pure who shine as the brightness on the heavens, unto the soul of Regina the daughter of Daniel and Cecile who has gone unto eternity, and in whose memory charity is offered. May her repose be in paradise. May the Lord of Mercy bring her under the cover of His wings forever, and may her soul be bound up in the bond of eternal life. May the Lord be her possession, and may she rest in peace. Amen.

Memory from Nephew Doug Frankel

Why was I lucky to be the nephew of Regina?

Because to me she was vacations. And adventure.  And culture.  And art.  And laughter.  To me she was an anchor, a homebase, and a challenge not to be lazy. When she did art, she didn’t just do it for herself, she did it for countless kids, inspiring them as an example and as a teacher and as a cheerleader. 

My mom and dad and little sis and I regularly hit the road for Bethesda, to Aunt Jean’s house, which felt like a second home because she made it that way.  It was a place I could overeat and oversleep and listen to conversations that were way over my head.  When her kids applied to schools, it seemed like they were aiming for Harvard and MIT, at the very very least, unless they could do better. 

I had so much ice cream with Regina over the years, it felt fitting that when we came to see her in Jupiter, Florida, we all went out for ice cream and it was great.  A truly good time.  Regina was always there for me and that meant the world.  And I know she meant the world to my mom, who never stopped bragging about her sister.  She said “You know, our house was one of the biggest in the whole neighborhood.  We had a lot of floors and a lot of bedrooms.  But we picked the smallest room on the highest floor, and we shared it.  Because that’s the way we liked it.  We always wanted to be together.  Jean is a wonderful sister.”  We will miss you Aunt Jean.  

Eulogy

Jewish tradition requires that a formal eulogy be delivered.

Regina exerted tremendous energy throughout her life in bringing and keeping family and friends together. She traveled from her home in Bethesda to New York, Boston, California, Florida, Egypt, Switzerland, France, and Mallorca for family reunions, visits to grandchildren, college reunions.

Regina was a diligent scholar and helped imbue her children with the values of reading, preparation, and on-time delivery of schoolwork. Regina showed us by example how to welcome friends and neighbors into a home. Regina showed us by example how to balance the roles of individual, spouse, and parent, never spending so much time on one role that she neglected the other two. She loved, appreciated, and supported fine art, literature, performance art, classical music.

Regina was always ready to explore new areas. She visited China, India, and Southeast Asia, for example, while her husband preferred the comforts of familiar destinations. Regina learned to play pinball and pool at age 90 from her grandsons. Regina was the one who said that it was time to move into a senior community where it would be easier to socialize while our father Nat would have stayed in our Glen Echo house from inertia.

Regina was patient and never succumbed to the distractions of the Internet and cable TV. She would go with me to the Palm Beach County Public Library in Jupiter and pick out a stack of large print books and then read them from cover to cover.

Regina was generous with her time and money. She taught at Washington Hebrew Congregation every weekend for many years. She taught art to grandchildren and any other children who happened to be around. She donated to conventional charities, never discouraged when I pointed out that the CEOs of those charities were paying themselves over $1 million per year. She donated her time and efforts within the Maplewood senior community to organize art exhibitions and hands-on arts and crafts events.

She was a beloved wife to Nathaniel for 65 years, never succumbing to the prevailing divorce culture despite her strong independent streak. She was a reliable loving mother to us even when we didn’t deserve it. Regina didn’t hold grudges and she didn’t complain about own challenges, even when her joints began to fail and required replacement.

Regina had many fine personal qualities that I will strive to emulate.

Graveside Mourner’s Kaddish (facing east)

Exalted and hallowed be His great Name. (Congregation responds: “Amen.”)

In the world which He will create anew, where He will revive the dead, construct His temple, deliver life, and rebuild the city of Jerusalem, and uproot foreign idol worship from His land, and restore the holy service of Heaven to its place, along with His radiance, splendor and Shechinah, and may He bring forth His redemption and hasten the coming of His Moshiach. (Cong: “Amen.”)

In your lifetime and in your days and in the lifetime of the entire House of Israel, speedily and soon, and say, Amen.

(Cong: “Amen. May His great Name be blessed forever and to all eternity, blessed.”)

May His great Name be blessed forever and to all eternity. Blessed and praised, glorified, exalted and extolled, honored, adored and lauded be the Name of the Holy One, blessed be He. (Cong: “Amen.”)

Beyond all the blessings, hymns, praises and consolations that are uttered in the world; and say, Amen. (Cong: “Amen.”)

May there be abundant peace from heaven, and a good life for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen. (Cong: “Amen.”)

*He Who makes peace (Between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur substitute: “the peace”) in His heavens, may He make peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen. (Cong: “Amen.”)