LEVITTOWN, PA… MARILYN H. NEIMAN
A Champion for Homeless Pets
On Monday morning, October 1, 2018, Marilyn Neiman’s heart stopped beating, and she quietly slipped away from this life. She was a month shy of her 89th birthday.
Marilyn was one of the founders of Hope for the Animals (HFA), begun in 1985. In its heyday, HFA was the largest cat and dog rescue organization in Bucks County. She served as its President for 23 years, until 2008, when she retired due to declining health.
HFA fostered and found forever homes for thousands of dogs and cats. Marilyn herself was personally responsible for saving many of those lives, several of whom became members of her own family.
Marilyn was totally blind by the year the HFA was formed. Yet for many years while serving as President, she had the capacity to remember volumes of information about the pets she served — names, ages, personality, veterinary issues, foster placement, and -of course- the dog or cat’s new home and forever family. She was a force to be reckoned with.
Following her retirement from HFA, she lived a quiet life with her husband, Herbie, who had served alongside her as Vice President of HFA. The two lived together with her cat, Baby, and his cat, Callie; a colony of feral cats they cared for jointly with their next door neighbors, John and Wally Haasz; the many birds who came by for their daily meal; and Sammy the squirrel, who came to the front door every morning for peanuts.
In December 2017, Herb Neiman passed away. Shortly thereafter, Callie died. Marilyn continued on with Baby and her newly adopted terrier, Honey, in her comfortable home filled with the memories of her 67-year marriage, the daughter she and Herbie raised, and a life of service to the animals.
Preceding her in leaving this life were her maternal grandparents, Emma and Meyer Heyman; her paternal grandparents, Rebecca and Jacob Kohn; her parents, Lillian and Harry Kohn; her beloved husband, Herb Neiman; Callie the cat; and scores of pets whom she loved and adored, all of blessed memory.
Those she left behind to mourn her loss are her daughter, Yvonne Neiman; her brother, Jack Kohn and his wife, Norma; her nephew, Steven Kohn and his wife, Ellen; her niece, Martha Wurzel; her great-nephews, Philip Kohn and Robert Kohn; her great nephew, Greg Wurzel and his wife, Bimala; and her great-niece, Elizabeth Grossi, her husband, Kevin Grossi, and the great-great-granddaughter they have on the way.
Marilyn Neiman also left behind her beloved cat, Baby; her dog, Honey; Yvonne’s dog, Davi, and her cats, Sophie and Serena; Sammy the squirrel; and a legacy of thousands of families enriched by the dogs and cats adopted from Hope for the Animals.
Despite a broken heath care system, Marilyn experienced some of the best medical and home health care a family could wish for, and for that the family is grateful beyond words. Her primary care physician, Dr. Barbara Shonberg, provided her with exceptional care for a number of years. Her occupational therapist, Kevin Brown and physical therapist, Kara Jackson, both of Fox Rehabilitation Services, worked with her for several years, and are wonderful people who were kind and patient with her.
Crossroads Hospice, who attended her in the final weeks of her life, were responsive, caring, and always willing to collaborate. A special thanks to nurses Amy and Kate.
Marilyn’s final days would have been very different had it not been for her hospice doctor, Dr. Neel Gandhi. In an act of exceptional compassion, he agreed to serve in that capacity, even though his prior professional relationship had been as Herb Neiman’s oncologist. Dr. Gandhi was always available to advise and direct Marilyn’s treatment. It is because of him that there is a peace in her passing, knowing that everything that could be done was done, and done in the right way.
Marilyn’s wishes were to remain at home until her death. Her daughter was grateful and comforted by being able to honor her request. However, it was only made possible by the excellent care and devotion of Marilyn’s home health care aides – Allison, Darlene, Cathy, Karen, and Jolanta.
Special thanks also to friends Cheryl and Eric Minney; to next-door neighbors Wally (may she rest in peace) and John Haasz; and to Rabbi Anna Boswell Levy of Congregation Kol Emet.
The funeral service for Marilyn Neiman will be held on Tuesday, October 9, 2018 at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, 830 Highland Road, Newtown, PA. All are welcome to attend. Please arrive at the Administration Building no later than 10:15 a.m. A short procession will follow; the service will be from 10:30-11:00 a.m.
All are then invited back to Yvonne Neiman’s home at 14 Cypress Place, Newtown, (Newtown Grant) to pay respects and share in the traditional Meal of Consolation. Shiva will be observed on the following days/times, all at Yvonne Neiman’s residence:
Tuesday, October 9 – 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 10 – 4:00-8:30 p.m. (service with Rabbi Boswell-Levy at 7:30)
Thursday, October 11 – 3:00-8:00 p.m.
Friday, October 12 – 1:00-5:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Marilyn Neiman’s memory to The Crossings Animal Society, 1083 Taylorsville Rd. – Suite 3, Washington Crossing, PA. (www.TheCrossingsAnimalSociety.org)
Zichronah livracha – May her memory be for a blessing.