Rae Gerson

Rae Gerson passed away Monday, February 24, 2025, at the age of 95. Rae was born in Houston, Texas on December 31, 1929, and was a lifelong Houstonian. She was preceded in death by her parents, Freida and Dave Steinberg, her brother, Milton Steinberg, her husband, Buddy Gerson, and her beloved grandson, Danny Abramson. She married her high school sweetheart, Buddy Gerson, on November 23, 1950, and they enjoyed 73 years of marriage. They raised three children, Marsha Abramson, Steve Gerson, and Cindy Abrahams, and they treated their spouses, Arnold Abramson, Lora Ann Hager Gerson, and Jeff Abrahams, with the warmth and closeness that they showed their three children. Known to all as Memaw or Meems, she was a loving grandmother to Michael and Billie, Brian and Lori, Danny (z”l) and Maggie, Gayle and Corby, Leslie and Danny, Amelia, Kevin and Lauren, Claire and Josh, and Matt and Holli. She was blessed with and received much joy from her 16 adoring great- grandchildren: Ethan, Carrington, Sydney, Teddy, Charley, Natalie, Savannah, Jonah, Lila, Kaia, Moe, Leni, Sam, Stella, Miles, and Serena. She treasured her closest family, Milton and Harriett Steinberg, David and Mozelle Barg, and Leon and Peggy Samet. She remained very close to their children and grandchildren throughout her life. Rae was a voracious reader, she loved entering contests, collecting stamps and coins, and writing letters to the editor. She loved dancing, most recently dancing at the wedding of her granddaughter, Claire, just over a year ago. Over the years, she enjoyed playing mah jong and tennis, power walking on the bayou, and playing Wordle in the family Wordle group until her last day. She was a master at knitting and needlepoint, creating ketubahs and blankets for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Rae and Buddy loved to travel the world with friends and family, and she especially relished planning the many Gerson Family Playcations, which created lasting close bonds. She found her true calling and great fulfillment through JFS, visiting out-of-town Jewish patients way back when people came to Houston for heart surgery with Drs. DeBakey and Cooley. She continued her volunteering at MD Anderson where she spent decades helping people through tough moments in their lives, often with the help of baked goods from her kitchen. Rae met and befriended people from all over the world and maintained relationships with many of them for decades. She organized the Christmas Day lunch at MD Anderson for many years and was recognized by MD Anderson for her more than 13,000 hours of volunteering and by the Houston Chronicle with their Savvy Award. Rae was a source of strength, wisdom and fun to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. And she celebrated many simchas with family, including the b’nai mitzvot of four great-grandchildren, and most recently her 95th birthday. She constantly spoke about how blessed she felt, and she lived every day to the fullest. Her warmth and kindness touched everyone she met, and you instantly felt loved and cared for. She will be greatly missed by everyone who had the great fortune of knowing her. The funeral service took place on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at 2:00 pm in the Sophia and Jack Bender Memorial Chapel at Beth Yeshurun Post Oak Cemetery, 7445 Awty School Lane, Houston, Texas 77055. The service was livestreamed at the following link: https://venue.streamspot.com/f8d04b5b. Memorial contributions can be made to the Rae and Buddy Gerson Chesed Fund at Congregation Beth Yeshurun, www.bethyeshurun.org, or to a charity of your choice.

Rae Gerson

December 31, 1929 - February 24, 2025