Shirley (Schwartz) Rackowitz

Shirley (Schwartz) Rackowitz of Haynes Rd., West Hartford, beloved widow of William Rackowitz, died Monday, July 12, 2010. Born in New York, NY, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Gussie (Kargman) Schwartz, and was a graduate of Weaver High School, Class of 1943. She was the head bookkeeper at Made Rite Products and PGS Distributors and was a paraprofessional for 22 years at Hartford Public High School and the Eleanor B. Kennelly School, Hartford. Shirley was also a volunteer at the Hartford Jewish Coalition for Jewish Literacy at the Laurel School in Bloomfield. She was a member and contributor to many philanthropic organizations. She leaves her sister-in-law Nancy Schwartz, her nephew, Gary Schwartz and his wife Lisa of West Hartford, her niece, Marcia Lazowski and her husband Alan of Hartford, and her grand niece and grand nephews, Jesse and Jonah Lazowski, and Jacob Schwartz who were like grandchildren to her. She also leaves her God-son David Berk, cousins Marvin Berk, Marlene Glass, Randee and Marc Schneider, Michael and Cathy Glass and their families. Besides her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her brother, Milton Schwartz, her grand niece, Rebecca Schwartz Lazowski, and her first cousin, Milton Glass. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 11:00 AM in the Chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Ave., Hartford with Rabbi Philip Lazowski officiating. Interment will follow in the Hartford Mutual Society Cemetery, Wolcott Road, East Granby. A memorial period will be observed at 80 Norwood Road, West Hartford, Thursday following the funeral with services at 7:30 PM, and Friday, 1-5 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to the Rebecca Schwartz Lazowski Fund, c/o Solomon Schechter Day School, 26 Buena Vista Rd., West Hartford 06107, or to Hebrew Health Care Hospice, 1 Abrahms Blvd., West Hartford 06117, or to the Emanuel Synagogue, 160 Mohegan Dr., West Hartford 06117. The family would like to thank Shirley’s wonderful caretaker, Yvonne Robinson, for her loving kindness that she showed Shirley. In addition, the family would like to thank the Hospice nurses at Hebrew Health Care, Kate Collette, Barbara Marsalisi, and Donna Hale. For further information, directions, or to sign the guestbook for Shirley, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com.