Fern Dena Rabinowitz

July 19, 1947 - June 25, 2022
Fern Dena Rabinowitz

Memorial Gifts & Donations


Fern Dena Rabinowitz, age 74 of Brunswick Forest Community in Leland passed away Saturday, June 25, 2022.

She was born in Brooklyn, NY on July 19, 1947 to Joseph Meyerson and Jean Kushman Meyerson.

When Fern was 3 years old she moved with her parents from Brooklyn NY to Clifton, NJ and attended school there. She graduated with a degree in Elementary Education from the University of Connecticut, and later earned her master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Rhode Island. Fern was a stay at home mom until her youngest child was around 10 years old. She then embarked on a career as a Middle School Librarian in Tolland, CT, retiring in 2008. In 2011, Fern and Ken moved to Brunswick Forest in Leland, NC following Ken’s retirement.

Fern was a loyal sports fan of the UCONN Huskies, LA Dodgers, NY Giants, and Boston Celtics. She enjoyed golf, pottery, flower gardening, photography, travel, the beach, Mah Jongg, Scrabble, reading, shopping, cooking (but not cleaning) and baking (but not eating) her famous Chocolate Chip Cookies. She enjoyed making new friends and of course spending time with old friends as well. She loved watching her favorite television shows including HGTV, Food Channel, MSNBC, and classic shows like the Waltons and Bonanza to name a few. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family, especially the holidays including the annual Thanksgiving Dinner with “The Chopped Liver Turkey”.

Fern was very competitive and hated to lose at anything, and as everyone knows she never left her home without having her hair and make-up done.

Fern was married to Kenneth Rabinowitz on March 17, 1968. They have two children, Joel Rabinowitz from Edwards, Colorado, and Karen Blanchard (Jonathan) of Oak Ridge, Tennessee; along with three grandchildren, Justin Blanchard, Adam Blanchard, and Sydney Blanchard. She also has a special niece, Lauren Wodlinger and a loving sister-in-law, Phyllis Rabinowitz. She was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, Susan Matisoff and Stephen Meyerson.

The family suggests donations may be made to Brunswick Family Assistance, 324-I Village Rd. Leland, NC 28451. Temple of Israel Ukrainian Support, 922 Market St. Wilmington, NC 28401 or a charity of your choice.

Ken and family would like to thank all of the skilled and compassionate caregivers at Novant-NHRMC.

Funeral services are planned for 11 am Wednesday, June 29, 2022 at the Wilmington Funeral Chapel. Her burial will be at the Temple of Israel Cemetery in Wilmington, NC. The livestream of the service can be viewed by clicking HERE

Ken and family will be sitting Shiva at the home Wednesday evening through Friday. Address, 1107 Evangeline Dr., Leland, NC 28451.

Share memories and condolences with the family by visiting the “Tribute Wall”.

Wilmington Funeral & Cremation 1535 S. 41st Street, Wilmington, NC 28403 910-791-9099.

Tribute Wall

Please feel free to sign the guestbook or share a memory



Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


  • June 29, 2022
    Arleen Cello says:
    Dear Ken and family, Due to health issues we regret that we were unable to attend the beautiful service for Fern, which we just finished viewing online. Your comments brought us to tears! You have a beautiful family who we hope to be able to meet someday. Ray says he'll miss Fern teasing him about riding his bike with no light--- while she lovingly watered her plants. We will surely miss our lovely neighbor who was truly a wonderful person! With sincerest condolences, Arleen and Ray

  • June 29, 2022
    Joel Rabinowitz says:
    Didn't want to upstage the main speakers...actually would of never got through this. Anyone who knows me, knows I'm not much of a talker so we will keep this short and sweet, like my mother. Well definitely the short part and mostly sweet particularly to her grand kids, just not so much when she used to receive my school report cards. Thanks so many people for being there today, family, old friends and new and even a replacement Rabbi. I was a little surprised when my parents decided to move to this area, but they have absolutely loved it. Between golf, pottery, mahjongg, bowling, New Year's Eve lobsters, etc. they have a better social life than me. So thank you, what a wonderful community! I'm sure you'll embrace my dad over the coming days, weeks, and months. My mom loved being a mom, aunt, friend, and grandma. Holiday traditions were very important to her, I moved to Colorado over 30 years ago and I would never miss the very important chopped liver turkey. Thanks mom for instilling in me a love of sports, best of luck to the Dodgers...they may just go all the way to a World Series defeat to the NY Yankees. Also instilling in me a work ethic, a love of working with children and the importance of giving back to your community. Not sure what I'm going to do without your home decorating and shopping prowess, but I did buy my first sport coat in 53 years without you on Monday and I may even finally replace the carpeting in my house:) I will miss you everyday and continue to try and make this crazy world a little better every day. Love you mom.

  • June 29, 2022
    Arleen Cello says:
    Dear Ken and family, Due to health issues we were unable to attend this beautiful service which we just finished viewing online. Your speech brought us to tears ! You have a beautiful family which we hope to be able to meet someday.! Ray says he will really miss Fern's teasing him about riding his bike at night with no light, while she was lovingly watering her plants. We will really miss our lovely neighbor who was truly a wonderful person. With sincerest condolences, Arleen and Ray

  • June 29, 2022
    Duska Hepner says:
    So saddened and sorry to hear this, Fern was a truly remarkable and caring individual, totally enjoyed working with her at TMS. Thoughts and prayers to the entire family

  • June 29, 2022
    Alyse (Barnas) Castonguay says:
    I remember how much Fern enjoyed reading aloud to her students when she was a librarian. Fern did a wonderful job with character voices! As a breast cancer survivor, she built a community as she gathered so many of us to walk with her every October. Fern’s smile could light up a room. May her memory be a blessing.