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.