1936
Amalie
2011
Amalie Koppel
June 12, 1936 — December 6, 2011
AMY KOPPEL
1936-2011
Amalie Ann Lieberman Koppel passed away December 6, following a long, valiant battle with cancer. She was 75.
A native of Dallas and a graduate of Southern Methodist University, Amy came to Harlingen in 1961 to make a new life with her husband, Rollie.
She grew quickly to love her adopted town, raising a family of three children and five grandchildren and establishing many lifelong friends that were drawn to a woman who had a fierce intellect and sense of humor, along with a boundless zest for life.
Rollie often remarked that his wife was far more popular and well known than he in his hometown.
Amy taught for 30 years in Harlingen public schools. She was a gifted teacher of English, Spanish and drama, leavening classes with humor (as she did in all conversations) and using music, film and other pop cultural references to drive home her lessons.
Teaching was her profession, but her passion was counseling. Amy was an extraordinarily wise and knowing woman who was always willing to take time to talk to people about their struggles and to offer spot-on advice. People naturally gravitated to her, and the list of Amy adoptees is too long to mention.
She also left an indelible mark on the community through her tireless commitment to the Girl Scouts, education scholarships for the less advantaged, cancer charities, the Harlingen museum, and many other civic organizations.
Perhaps most of all, Amy will be most remembered as a one-of-a-kind character, with a charm, gregariousness and sense of humor that animated her surroundings. She adored music, theatre, and art and always seemed, to the very end, eternally youthful.
Through it all, she served as the center of her family’s orbit, shuttling her children to classes and extracurricular activities; organizing vacations; sending care packages; becoming a doting grandmother known to all as The Mimsie. Her genuine love for her husband, children, grandchildren, and extended family was unstinting and created a legacy that will never be lost.
Amy is survived by Rollie, her children Katherine Amalie and her husband Pablo Noriega, Nathan and his wife Jennifer Koppel, and Annie and her husband Jeff Van Hanken, and her grandchildren, Lucia Ann, Miller, Max, Asher, and her namesake Aliza Amalie.
A burial service will be held at Restlawn Memorial Park in La Feria on Friday, December 9 at 11 a.m. A memorial service will follow on Friday at 1 p.m. at Temple Beth Israel in Harlingen.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas, 202 E. Madison, Harlingen, Texas 78550, the Harlingen Arts and Heritage Museum, 2425 Boxwood St. Harlingen, Texas 78550 or Temple Beth Israel P.O. Box 3398, Harlingen, Texas 78551.
1936-2011
Amalie Ann Lieberman Koppel passed away December 6, following a long, valiant battle with cancer. She was 75.
A native of Dallas and a graduate of Southern Methodist University, Amy came to Harlingen in 1961 to make a new life with her husband, Rollie.
She grew quickly to love her adopted town, raising a family of three children and five grandchildren and establishing many lifelong friends that were drawn to a woman who had a fierce intellect and sense of humor, along with a boundless zest for life.
Rollie often remarked that his wife was far more popular and well known than he in his hometown.
Amy taught for 30 years in Harlingen public schools. She was a gifted teacher of English, Spanish and drama, leavening classes with humor (as she did in all conversations) and using music, film and other pop cultural references to drive home her lessons.
Teaching was her profession, but her passion was counseling. Amy was an extraordinarily wise and knowing woman who was always willing to take time to talk to people about their struggles and to offer spot-on advice. People naturally gravitated to her, and the list of Amy adoptees is too long to mention.
She also left an indelible mark on the community through her tireless commitment to the Girl Scouts, education scholarships for the less advantaged, cancer charities, the Harlingen museum, and many other civic organizations.
Perhaps most of all, Amy will be most remembered as a one-of-a-kind character, with a charm, gregariousness and sense of humor that animated her surroundings. She adored music, theatre, and art and always seemed, to the very end, eternally youthful.
Through it all, she served as the center of her family’s orbit, shuttling her children to classes and extracurricular activities; organizing vacations; sending care packages; becoming a doting grandmother known to all as The Mimsie. Her genuine love for her husband, children, grandchildren, and extended family was unstinting and created a legacy that will never be lost.
Amy is survived by Rollie, her children Katherine Amalie and her husband Pablo Noriega, Nathan and his wife Jennifer Koppel, and Annie and her husband Jeff Van Hanken, and her grandchildren, Lucia Ann, Miller, Max, Asher, and her namesake Aliza Amalie.
A burial service will be held at Restlawn Memorial Park in La Feria on Friday, December 9 at 11 a.m. A memorial service will follow on Friday at 1 p.m. at Temple Beth Israel in Harlingen.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas, 202 E. Madison, Harlingen, Texas 78550, the Harlingen Arts and Heritage Museum, 2425 Boxwood St. Harlingen, Texas 78550 or Temple Beth Israel P.O. Box 3398, Harlingen, Texas 78551.
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