Manchester Obituary: Jeanette Shapiro-Finsmith, 98

Jeanette (Mindell) Shapiro-Finsmith, 98 years of age, of West Hartford, formerly of Manchester, died Thursday, October 22, 2015. She was the wife of Irving Finsmith and the widow of Lester M. Shapiro.

Born in Lithuania, she was the daughter of the late Max and Tobey (Kaplan) Mindell. She was a member of Temple Beth Sholom synagogue in Manchester for more than 50 years, and was a member of Hadassah. She was the class poetess at Norwich Free Academy, and was very proud of having earned her Associates degree from Manchester Community College. She was an avid reader, poet, story-writer, and bridge player for many years, and she loved to travel. With her late husband, Lester Shapiro, she owned Tot’s N Teens/Casual Village in Manchester and Wethersfield. They were in business in Manchester for 24 years, and sold their businesses in 1972.

She leaves her husband, Irving Finsmith, and her daughters, Ellen Marshall and her husband Ralph of Colchester, and Tobi Krutt and her husband Joel of Tolland; four grandchildren, Elizabeth Marshall, Leila Phillips and her husband Ian, Hannah Krutt, and Michael Marshall and his wife Anne; and two great-grandchildren, Hanna and Ben Marshall.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Sunday, October 25, 2015 at Temple Beth Sholom Memorial Park, Autumn St., Manchester with Rabbi Richard Plavin officiating. Following the interment the family will receive relatives and friends at the home of Tobi and Joel Krutt in Tolland on Sunday and Monday evening at 7:30 p.m., and on Tuesday evening at the home of Ellen and Ralph Marshall in Colchester at 7:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Lester M. Shapiro Memorial Fund at Beth Sholom B’nai Israel synagogue on East Middle Turnpike in Manchester.

Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford. For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Jeanette, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm.