Muriel Ruth Kodis Branz, 91, died of natural causes on February 3, 2017 surrounded by her loving family at Golden Pond Assisted Living in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Muriel was born in Portland, Maine in 1925 to Isaac Kodis and Alice E. Modes. She grew up on Munjoy Hill and graduated from Portland High School in 1943. Muriel attended Westbrook Jr. College as a commuting student for two years before transferring to Tufts University. She graduated from Tufts Jackson College for Women with combined B.A. in Biology and Chemistry in 1947. Muriel married Brewster Branz in 1950 and was a homemaker in Portland until she moved to Massachusetts in 2010. She was active in the Maine League of Women voters for many years. After raising three energetic sons, Muriel enjoyed golf with friends, took Senior College classes, led local book clubs, loved playing contract bridge and swam regularly at the YMCA. Her great joys were home-cooked meals with family at home, visits to her sons families and travel to new countries and other parts of the United States. Muriel was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, Brewster, and by three older brothers, Ralph, Milton and Sidney Kodis. She is survived by her son Stephen Branz and his wife Emily Young of Palo Alto, CA, her son Andrew and his wife Nancy Branz of Hopkinton, MA and her son Howard Branz and his wife Carol Navsky, of Boulder, CO. She delighted in all seven of her grandchildren: Heidi Branz-Hernandez of Half Moon Bay, CA, Toby Branz of San Francisco, CA, Naomi Branz of Santa Cruz, CA, Jeffrey and Sarah Branz of Boston, MA, Mikayla Branz of Los Angeles, CA and Ariel Branz of Jamaica Plain, MA. In her last months, Muriel enjoyed photos of her newborn great-granddaughter, Sierra Ray Branz-Hernandez. Muriel is loved and already missed by all her many children and grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11 am on Sunday, February 5, at The Jewish Funeral Home, 471 Deering Avenue, Portland, followed by interment at Temple Beth El Memorial Park. Visiting hours for family and friends will be immediately following the burial. There will be a Shiva Minyan from 6 to 9 pm on Monday, February 6 at 21 Nicholas Road, in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Memorial contributions may be given to the Portland Symphony Orchestra or the League of Women Voters of Maine.
