Obituary: Rhoda Carol (Isaacson) Brenner Marks, 89, of Hamden

HAMDEN, CT - (From Wallingford Funeral Home) Rhoda Carol Brenner (Isaacson) Marks died peacefully in her home on March 29 at the age of 89. She was born in New York City to Edythe and Arthur Brenner.

She grew up in Woodmere, NY, studied early childhood education at Cornell University (BS) and Iowa State University (MS). She married Dan Isaacson with whom she became the mother of three children.

After a divorce, she married William J Marks Jr. and became known as a beloved, “Bubbe” to her grandchildren.

Rhoda was a preschool teacher at the Firehouse Nursery school and then Number 4 school in Inwood until she retired in the 1980’s. She loved listening and playing music her whole life and shared that love with her students, friends, and family.

She moved to Manhattan after her retirement and thoroughly enjoyed the city life. She became enamored with Shaklee products and learned how to sell them which she did until just a few years ago.

She volunteered with various organizations including NRDC (National Resources Defense Council) where she responded to students’ and educators’ requests about how to support the environment and Carnegie Hall where she started the volunteer docent program.

She loved walking and running in Central Park. One of her proud claims to fame was her training for and completing the NYC Marathon when she was 66 years old.

She enjoyed travelling and her favorite place to which she returned often was Israel where she enjoyed working on a kibbutz.

Temple was very important to Rhoda, and she was always affiliated with a synagogue wherever she lived including Temple Sinai in Lawrence, NY, Temple Avodah in Oceanside NY, Temple Shaaray Tefila in NYC and Congregation Mishkan Israel in Hamden CT.

She is survived by her daughter Abby (Marks) Beale and her husband Chris of Wallingford, CT, her sons Gerry Marks of Lansing MI and Lawrence Isaacson of Waltham MA, her brother Michael Brenner and his wife Roberta of Brooklyn, NY, three nieces Deb, Amy and Samantha and one nephew Gabriel.

She was Bubbe to her two beloved grandsons Jonathan and Michael Beale and is already missed greatly. She was predeceased by her second husband of 49 years William J Marks Jr.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Rhoda’s full-time caregiver Adeline Everett and the staff at Vitas Hospice for doing a wonderful job in ushering Rhoda home.

The family is planning a private graveside burial at Mt Ararat Cemetery in Farmingdale, NY.