Shirley (Charlotte (Weinberg)) Bunis

Shirley Charlotte Weinberg Bunis, former publisher of the Connecticut Jewish Ledger, died Monday, May 11, at the age of 97 at her home in West Hartford. She was a graduate of Weaver High School Class of 1935, and the Morse School of Business.
While in high school, she began working at the Ledger. In the early 1950’s , a wife and mother, she was called back to help run the paper. In 1966 Shirley, now the advertising manager, and Bert Gaster, managing editor, purchased the weekly paper founded by Rabbi Abraham J. Feldman in 1929. Shirley and Bert started the Bridgeport Jewish Ledger in 1970 and the New Haven Jewish Ledger in 1972.
Excelling in all things academic, Shirley, while still in grade school, was especially proud of having been awarded a full set of the works of William Shakespeare which has been proudly exhibited on her book shelves through the years. Her expertise with words has been evident to family and friends during her much loved games of Scrabble and her diligent work on the New York Times Crossword puzzles.
As beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside, Shirley’s love of family was evident through her actions. From traveling by trolley car as a young girl eager to visit with her grandmother, to traveling to pick up her grandchildren from school for a visit, Shirley always had time to be there for you. Her homemade meals soothed her father in his later years, and care of her husband, Lester, who had Alzheimer’s and finally passed in June, 2002, took enormous strength and love.
Shirley and Lester brought up their two daughters in Hartford, later residing in West Hartford. They also enjoyed spending summers in Charlestown, RI, and warm, sunny days in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Shirley was surrounded by her loving family on her final Mother’s Day.
Shirley was a member of Teferes Israel Synagogue, Bloomfield, and a member of Beth David Synagogue, West Hartford..
Shirley was predeceased by her parents, Lena (Epstein) and Hyman Weinberg of Hartford, her husband, Lester Bunis, her sister, Anita DiLiberto, and brother, Alvin Weinberg of West Hartford. She is survived by her daughters, Harriet Bunis of West Hartford, and Marlene Grower and her husband, Lewis of Wethersfield; her grandchildren, Sandra Grower of Newington, and Leah Belin and her husband, Jeremy of Rockville, Maryland; her great-grand daughter, Naomi Belin of Rockville, Maryland; her brother, Morton Weinberg and his wife, Hannah of West Hartford, and several nieces and nephews.
A graveside funeral service will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 11:00 a.m. in the Beth David Synagogue Cemetery, Wethersfield. Shiva will be held at her home 4 to 7 pm Tuesday through Thursday. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford, CT. For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Shirley, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cmf.

Service Date: 01/01/1970