Myrna Winter

Myrna L. Winter (Epstein), of Natick, MA, formerly of Framingham and Dedham, passed away peacefully on October 11, 2025, surrounded by her loving family, just weeks before her 78th birthday. A graveside funeral was held at the Beth El Cemetery in West Roxbury on October 14, 2025.

Born on November 19, 1947 to the late Julius and Betty Epstein, Myrna was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend whose kindness and compassion touched countless lives.

A Legacy of Service

Myrna was known for her decades of dedicated work with immigrants, refugees, and families in need. Before joining Jewish Family Service (JFS) in 1997, she spent years volunteering to help resettle Russian Jewish families arriving in the MetroWest area. As both a professional and volunteer, she built networks of care and practical assistance that extended far beyond any single organization.

Myrna was a force in founding and nurturing programs that helped new Americans find their footing — from citizenship workshops and cultural enrichment programs to youth mentoring and food security initiatives. She was instrumental in the creation of the MetroWest kosher food pantry and coordinated holiday and seasonal support efforts that continue to serve families to this day. For hundreds of Russian-speaking families and newcomers from around the world, she was not just a caseworker; she was a mentor, advocate, and surrogate mother.

Her calling was simple yet profound: if someone needed food, furniture, work, or simply a listening ear, Myrna would find a way to make it happen. She was a master connector, linking those with resources to those in need, and she never forgot the human stories behind each situation. Following the loss of her beloved husband, Stan Winter, Myrna became a constant source of comfort to others navigating loneliness and grief, always ensuring no one felt forgotten.

Family

She is survived by her sons, Dovid (Esti), Michael, and Bryan (Erin); her grandchildren, Shia, Yechiel, Ahava, Ayden, Akiva, Shane, and Julian; and her brothers Steven and Harvey Epstein (Debra).

Service and Memorial Donations

A memorial gathering in celebration of her life will be held Monday, November 10, 2025, at 7:00 PM at the Chabad Center of Natick - MetroWest, 159 Boden Ln, Natick. RSVP https://ChabadNatick.com/MyrnaShloshim

Myrna requested that donations may be made in her memory to the Chabad Center of Natick. A fund has been set up to support some of the work that she loved most: https://thechesedfund.com/natick/winter