Ronna Lee Levy of Phoenix passed away at home on Saturday, October 17, 2026. She was 77.
Shiva
The family has shared that shiva is being observed at the home of Ronna and Stewart Levy in Phoenix. Those wishing to be menachem avel may reach the family through Sinai Mortuary, which is handling arrangements.
A teacher at heart
Ronna was born in Chicago on December 24, 1948, to Blanche and Ed Kalman. She studied elementary education at the University of Illinois Chicago and later earned a master's degree in education at the University of North Texas.
Her whole working life was spent with young children and the people who care for them. She taught at the Solomon Schechter School in Skokie, worked in the Plano schools and at the Jewish Community Center of Dallas, and after coming to the Valley served at the East Valley JCC in Chandler.
She went on to the Association for Supportive Child Care, now Candelen, in Phoenix, where she finished her career as a Quality First coach, helping early childhood programs give little ones a better start. She retired in August 2024.
Her family
Ronna and her husband, Stewart, were married for 57 years. In the family's words, "Above all else, family was the center of Ronna's world."
She leaves Stewart; her daughter Ellyn and son-in-law Brian Becker; her son Ricky; her grandchildren Rylee, Ilyssa and Zachary; and her siblings Karen Schlenbecker (Dave), Al Kalman (Sue), Barbara Kalman-Neff and Craig Kalman.
Remembering Ronna
The family has suggested gifts to the Harvey R. Gold Building Endowment Fund at Congregation Beth Shalom in Northbrook, Illinois, in memory of a dear friend.
Hamakom yenachem eschem b'soch she'ar aveilei Tzion v'Yerushalayim.
Kol Phoenix shares levayos and shiva information as a service to the kehillah. Corrections and additions are always welcome.