DECEMBER 1 • 2022 | 61

her condition. Debbie was 
independent and able to go 
to college, but eventually had 
to move home because of the 
illness. Leypsa doubled up her 
efforts to make sure Debbie 
was taken care of. 
“There was nothing my 
mother wouldn’t do for 
Debbie,
” David Groner said at 
the funeral. “Joel and I watched 
in amazement as to how a 
mother dealt with a sick child 
for so many years.
” 
When Debbie passed away 
in 2001, David recalls it being a 
difficult time for the family. But 
his parents, especially Leypsa, 
stayed strong and “chose life.
” 
“I think my mom realized 
that even though they lost 
Debbie, she would have wanted 
them to continue in their 
mission to help, heal, pray with 
and guide the synagogue and 
members,
” David said. 
Years later, Rabbi Groner was 
diagnosed with a serious illness 
for which there was no cure.
“
Again, she swung into action 
and did everything possible to 
ensure he had the best medical 
care and private care to ensure 
he lived with dignity and 
respect,
” David said.
After Rabbi Groner’s death in 
2013, David grew to somewhat 
worry about his mother, as her 
identity was so intertwined 
with her husband for so long. 
“For over five decades my 
mother and father were pilot 
and co-pilot in helping steer 
this synagogue in a positive 
direction and tending to the 
needs of the members of this 
wonderful congregation,
” David 
recalled. 
“
As brilliant and as great of 
an orator as my father was, 
my mom made sure he always 
looked great. She would fine-
tune him. He looked like a 
rabbi, acted like a rabbi, she 
made sure of it. She was his 

co-pilot. She was behind the 
scenes, but she was always 
there.
”
Yet, after the death of her 
husband, just as she did after 
her daughter’s death, Leypsa 
“chose life.
” 
“She realized she still could 
make an impact and help 
people, because that was my 
dad’s calling and I think she 
knew she still could carry on 
that part of my dad’s legacy,
” 
David said. 
Leypsa chose to move 
forward and find her calling 
— both literally on the phone 
and through writing notes 
— sending congratulatory 
messages to couples getting 
married, for anniversaries 
and births, and notes of 
condolences for deaths and 
yahrzeit. 
“I can’t tell you how many 
times people would tell me 
how wonderful it was to receive 
a note from Leypsa Groner,
” 
David said. “There are people 
here who have kept those 
messages and will keep them 
forever. 
“My mother was a force of 
nature who never lost her sense 
of humor or sense of pride, 
who never gave up when she 
had several reasons to do so,
” 
David added. “My mother 
chose life. And she lived her life 
with honor, dignity, and, with 
Leypsa — love, tough love. She 
did it her way.
” 
The date Leypsa died, Nov. 
18, also happens to be Debbie’s 
birthday. 
“Now God has taken our 
beloved Leypsa — and she 
is with her beloved Debbie, 
beloved Irwin and all the family 
and friends that have gone 
before her,
” David said. 
For those that knew her, 
Leypsa was opinionated, 
anything but shy, had a strong 
personality and did not back 

away from telling people 
exactly what she thought. But 
most of all, she had a good 
heart and always meant well. 
A common theme among 
those who spoke at the funeral 
is when they first arrived at 
CSZ, Leypsa embraced them, 
took them under her wing and 
treated them as family.
“Before coming to Detroit, 
I had never met anyone like 
Leypsa, and I am convinced I 
never will,
” Rabbi Berkun said. 
“She would tell you what you 
needed to know, even when 
you didn’t want to hear it. She 
would tell you what you needed 
to do, even when you didn’t 
want to do it. She was wise and 
insightful, shrewd and astute. 
Nothing got past her. She saw 
everyone and everything.
” 
Berkun said that in many 
ways, he learned nearly as 
much from Leypsa as he did 
from her husband about how 
to be a rabbi.
“While she at times could 
be sharp on the outside, she 
was nothing but mush on 
the inside,
” Berkun added. 
“She loved the people of this 
congregation with all her 
heart.
”
Rabbi Krakoff said, “If she 
was your friend, there was no 
one who was more devoted, 
loyal or protective. And she 
loved her children with all her 
heart and soul. She frequently 
bragged about each of them, 
always with tremendous pride.
” 
With the passing of the 
congregation’s rebbetzin of 
more than 60 years, there’s a 
common feeling this marks an 
end of an era. 
“In our lives, Leypsa was the 
music and her husband the 
lyrics,
” Rabbi Aaron Starr said. 
“Together they inspired us, 
comforted us, celebrated with 
us, taught us, laughed with us 
and guided us. 

“Leypsa was so proud of 
CSZ and sought to perpetuate 
our community as a place of 
dignity, honor, reverence and 
respect. She wanted what she 
thought was best for our sacred 
family and for each person who 
called CSZ home.
”
Beyond the synagogue, 
Leypsa was an active member 
of the Israel Bonds Women’s 
Division, Jewish Federation 
Women’s Division, Hadassah, 
NCJW and the Women’s 
League for Conservative 
Judaism. 
Leypsa Groner was the 
beloved wife to the late Rabbi 
Irwin Groner; cherished 
mother of Judge David Groner 
(Judge Amy Hathaway), 
Dr. Joel Groner and the late 
Deborah “Debbie” Groner; dear 
sister of Edward Lauria (Libby) 
and Anita Volk; cherished Aunt 
to Bobby and Sherry; dear 
sister-in-law of Sarah Barach, 
the late Rabbi Benjamin 
Groner, the late Rabbi Oscar 
Groner, the late Rabbi Julius 
Groner, the late Morton Groner 
and the late Ruth Rosenbaum; 
devoted daughter of the late 
William and the late Mary 
Lauria; and cherished cousin 
to Philip, Edward and the 
late Judy Yalowitz. She is also 
survived by Amy’s children, 
Lisa (David), Stephen and 
Kathryn and was affectionately 
known as “GB” (Great Bubbie) 
to Will and Audrey.
Those who wish to further 
honor the memory of Leypsa 
Groner may do so by making 
a contribution to the Debbie 
Groner Memorial Fund at 
Congregation Shaarey Zedek 
(27375 Bell Road, Southfield, 
MI 48034, 248-357-5544, 
https://shaareyzedek.shulcloud.
com/payment.php), Yeshiva 
Beth Yehudah or a charity of 
one’s choice. Arrangements by 
Ira Kaufman Chapel. 

