Leah Ray (Katz) Pear

PEAR, Leah Ray Pear (nee Katz), 88 years of age, of Moodus and Delray Beach, FL, died Saturday, October 1, 2011 at Hartford Hospital after an ongoing courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis attributed to Sjogren’s Disease. Born in Passaic, NJ, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Anna (Garber) Katz. Leah worked for a shoe importer in NYC prior to her marriage November 7, 1948 to Joseph D. Pear of Moodus. Upon her arrival in Moodus, she became active in the Rodfe Zedek Synagogue, the Synagogue Sisterhood and the Hebrew School. Along with her husband and many others she was instrumental in the merging of Beth Shalom and Rodfe Zedek Synagogues. She was active in the PTO and other organizations in Moodus. She worked for the Superintendent of Schools of East Haddam for a number of years. She went on to join her husband in business and together they owned and operated New England Shade & Blind in Middletown. Besides her husband, she leaves her daughter, Adrienne P. Hopfer (Sidney); her son, Dr. Steven Pear (Karen) of South Glastonbury; her grandchildren, Jamie Scarpati (Paul) of New Paltz, NY, Jeremy Hopfer of Plymouth, CT, Jennifer and Michael Pear of Miami, FL; her first great-grandson, Samuel Paul Scarpati; her brother Morris Katz (Esther) and her sister, Sylvia Ragovin (Charles) all of NJ; and many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends. Funeral services will be held Monday, October 3, 2011 at 1:00 PM in the Sanctuary of Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek, 55 East Kings Highway, Chester with Rabbi Rachel Goldenberg officiating. Interment will follow in Congregation Rodfe Zedek Cemetery, Route 151, Moodus-Leesville Rd., Moodus. Shiva will be observed Monday following the interment, and Wednesday 6:00-8:00 PM, at her home in Moodus, and Tuesday 6:00-8:00 PM at 288 Grandview Drive, Glastonbury. Memorial contributions may be made to the General Fund of Congregation Beth Shalom-Rodfe Zedek, 55 East Kings Highway, Chester 06412 or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford. For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Leah, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com.