Rosa (Erbesfield) Shields

Rosa (Erbesfeld) Shields died peacefully on January 15, 2013. Rosa was born in Copenhagen, Denmark in1919 to Chana and Itzak Erbesfeld. She was the youngest of three daughters. In 1921, Rosa arrived at Ellis Island with her family. She spent her childhood growing up in Washington Heights, NY until at age 13, her family moved to Joplin, MO where she graduated from high school. She then attended Lindenwood College and graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 1939. Following graduation, Rosa worked as a buyer for Stix, Baer and Fuller until she joined the Red Cross in 1943 and was stationed in the South Pacific where she met her future husband, Edwin L. Shields. Rosa and Ed were married Jan. 19, 1946 in St. Louis and moved to New York where they raised three children in Williston Park. Rosa continued her education, earning a Master’s Degree from Hofstra University in 1963. She taught high school until her retirement in 1980 when she and Ed moved to Connecticut where they happily retired, enjoying traveling, bridge and tennis until Ed’s death in August 1990. Rosa is lovingly remembered by her three children, Gregory P. Shields, MD and his wife, Susan of Haddam, Stephen L. Shields, Esq. and his wife, Karen of Bethlehem, PA and Wendy J. Swift, a teacher, and her husband, Ben of Farmington. She leaves behind her eight granddaughters: Sarah Stier and her husband, Rich, Julia McNally and her husband Charles, Erin Shields, Casey Shields, Erika Newland and her husband Ryan, Corrie Shields, Carly Shields and Allison Millstein, and four great-grandchildren: Eliana, Riley, Hannah and Charlie as well as several nieces, nephews and many friends. She is survived by her sister, Sylvia Rosenzweig of Shreveport, LA and predeceased by her sisters Frieda Kantor and Elsa Klienman. Funeral services will be held 12:00 noon on Thursday, January 17, 2013 in the Chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Ave., Hartford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The American Red Cross, the Middlesex Hospice and Palliative Care and Pathways Togo.