Funeral Details

So sad at the passing of "my little lady" as I called her. She was my neighbor and friend. She was quirky, funny and had a big heart. My thoughts and prayers are with her family whom she dearly loved.

Rachel Caldwell

Bob,
I am very sorry to hear of your mom's passing. She lived 91 years so I hope you and your family can celebrate her life and each can share wonderful memories. May her memory be for a blessing.
Best,
Marcia and Tom Korman

Tom Korman

Lori was a bright and shining soul. Her love for humanity is something to be emulated by all. She would often say” There’s always another way to think ,do, act and be.”. Her gentle way to remind us all to respond and not react. I will carry that with me forever.
Rest well Lori., I will miss our chats.

Carrie Demery

May her memory be a blessing!!!

Peter Dougherty

Bob, no matter how prepared we are, there is no 'being ready' for these life events. As you've heard me say before, I'm not sure when we became the adults, and I don't like it! I hope you can rejoice in the many years of good memories and times together.

Be well,

Josh & Catherine

Josh & Catherine Kanter

From the warmth of our mother's love comes the seeds of life that impacts generations to come. Looking at the family she raised and the positive contributions family and friends have put into the world, Loretta "Lorie" Iris Shapiro made a huge contribution to the world in being a better place. Min haShamayim Tenuhamu – “May you be consoled (or comforted) from Heaven.”

Paul Hinds Josie Tenore

Dear Bob,
To you and all your family may you see the beauty of your mom's life reflected in the lives of you and your siblings, children and grandchildren in whom and with whom her memory lives on. You are all in our prayers as you celebrate her long and fruitful life.
Sincerely, Mimi and Bob

mimi and Bob murley

I will share my favorite story about her at her funeral.

Thomas Bronowski

Lorie's Family: My heart is filled with sadness on learning of Lorie's passing and knowing that your hearts are breaking at the loss of your dear mother, grandmother.... Lorie was huge blessing to me, starting the day she waltzed into my life as a neighbor in Leisure World. She was a breathe of fresh air, she brightened my days, blessed me with her wisdom, taught me to laugh again and left me a kinder, wiser, more gentle person. She believed, demonstrated and lived LOVE.

MaryLou Wahlberg

Her body may be laid to rest, but her soul and her energy will continue on in every person whose life she touched. Her “philosophies” and poetry summed up Lorie’s essence. I will so miss sitting with her for hours on end while soaking up the wisdom she generously offered and all her amazing stories that made us laugh and cry together. She taught me so much in the six years I was gifted to know her since I moved to Arizona. My heart goes out to all the Bensman family for the loss of your precious Matriarch. Just seeing how close and loving all of you are is just a glimpse of her love and dedication to family.

Sandy Nidetz

Lorie and I go way back from kindergarten through high xchool together/ Then she married, I went to college and we went in different directions until many years later we connected back here in Chicago as if we had never been apart, I have pictures of different occasions hanging in my house that Lorie made for me.,,,,some with both of us. I was sorry to see her move to AZ but knew it was for her health, the best reason. We talked and I visited after she moved. I am so glad I was in AZ and saw her before she moved to the facility which was her decision. She told me that she was very happy there. She made friends and knew her memory was failing but always tried to look at the bright side. That was Lorie. I will miss my dear friend......May her memory be for a blessing

Arlene Wineberg

REMEMBRANCE OF LORIE SHAPIRO, MY B.F.F.
by Judy Doctor

I was an apprehensive mid-year transfer student to the 6th grade class at Peterson Elementary School in Chicago when a female student
gave me a welcoming smile and introduced herself. Her name was Loretta. Loretta Mazur. We started spending time together and soon
became each other’s Best Friend Forever.

Loretta and I were constantly together, often with our mutual good friend, Arlene. I became a fixture in the Mazur household. Most days after school I checked in at home and then headed to the Mazurs to spend time with Loretta and her family, occasionally remaining for dinner or for a sleepover. Eventually her parents met my parents, and they became friends, too.

Loretta was multi-talented. She loved to singand dance. Her first public pefrormance was was in a high school show. With another student taking Fred Astaire’s role in the movie “Easter Parade”, Loretta sang and danced Judy Garland’s part in the duet “We’re a Couple of Swells”. As a young mother, she continued to perform is local productions. At costume parties, her depiction of Charlie Chaplain in a black baggy suit and hat, with mustache and cane, was hilarious.

Loretta was beautiful in every sense of the word. She had Classic features. (We used to joke that she had a Grecian nose while I got stuck with a Roman.) And she was beautiful in many ways other than physically. She had an engaging personality and was sensitive to the problems of others that she might help. And she was so creative! Her creativity and artistic skills were evident so many aspects of her life: the greeting cards and gifts she made; her poems—whether humorous or serious—were sensitive, insightful, charming, thought-provoking.

After Loretta married Wayne, they raised their family in Chicago. Soon after I graduated from college, I married and settled in Maryland. Once she came her family to stay with our family. Loretta and I would rendezvouz whenever I came to Chicago to see her and my parents. We kept in touch with letters and phone calls, sharing intimate details of our lives. AND FOR 74 YEARS NEITHER OF US FORGOT TO SEND A BIRTHDAY CARD!

I vividly recall a conversation after with Loretta (at that point in her life she was called Lorie). When she moved to her house in Arizona. She was lonely and felt isolated. I reminded her how easily and swiftly she had made new friends in past years, and how welcome she would be once people met her and came to know her. She was skeptical. I was happy to prove her wrong. She soon began to meet and develop compatible friends and neitgbors. came to thrive in her new community. When she later moved to her new Assisted Living community she enriched the lives of her fellow residents and won them over with her clever mind and quick wit, her spontanaity, her friendshipf humor, her friendlship, musical performances and vivid personality.

She was a dear friend, and I will miss her so very much.

Judy Doctor

Judy Doctor

A grand and delightful lady--

She will be missed!

Gary Johnson

My Tribute To “Aunt”

To say that my Aunt Loretta was my favorite aunt would be both true, and a major understatement. Like my mother-in-law, “Aunt,” as I mostly called her, was like a second mother to me.

Without a doubt she was one of the most unique, fun-loving and eccentric women I’ve ever known. Her corny sense of humor and constant laughter was her trademark.

One of my favorite memories with her was during her time living in Leisure World. I had come by for a visit and when I asked her how she was doing, she casually mentioned she was good but didn’t sleep particularly well the night before. She went on to explain that she had gotten up in the middle of the night and came out to sleep in the living room on the couch. She went on in more detail how she slept on the couch with her one leg hanging off the edge. From there she demonstrated the “pose.” It was both silly and ridiculous looking and, in that moment, I said, “Aunt, you shall now be known as 'Aunt with One Leg Hanging!' She thought it was hysterical, and loved it as only she would!! And from that day forward it was one of our loving touchstones in which we both got many laughs and happy moments together every time I called her that.

So, here’s to my wonderful Aunt with One Leg Hanging: May you rest in peace. You are loved and will forever be treasured in my heart. May the energy of your legacy as a warm, caring, creative, artistic and human being, live on for eternity.

Mark Dale Mazur

“Aunt” was the silliest person I’ve ever known. She was a delight to be around because she laughed (and cried) at life; constantly cracking corny jokes and seeing comic strip humor in almost anything. She exuded love.
When I met her 47+ years ago she immediately established me as her niece (after I married Mark) and invited me to lunch at Neiman Marcus to get to know each other. It was the first of many heart to heart chats we had over the years.
I will miss her very unique ways; imaginative, forgiving, uncensored and loving.

Catherine Mazur

Sending my deepest sympathy to all friends and family of Lorie. My thoughts are with you all during this time. May she always be in our memories!

Deanne Huynh

Brad,
On behalf of the entire family, please accept our deepest condolences. We know how close you were to her and enjoyed sharing stories with us. Mainly how much she was loved and loving but also so so strong. Wishing you and the family togetherness and love as you celebrate her the way she deserves.

The Nelson Family c/o Natasha Lucke

I loved her so much. God has gotten one of the very good ones back. He's very lucky. She will be missed by so so many here. Thank you

Patricia McCue

Sad cannot express, enough, my feelings for my beloved Friend, Lori. Lori
was my confidant, advisor, problem solver, laugh-sharer....... everything a
woman could want in a Friend.

How lucky I was to have had her in my life since California days.
Love, hugs and peace, Joyce Basch

Joyce Basch

Bob, may the mourning you and your family are now experiencing be deep in meaning and bring you peace and fulfillment rich in the memories of your mother's life well lived. We have made a memorial gift in her honor to the Illinois Holocaust Museum so that her memory can live on for others as well. God's blessings on you, your mom and your family. Always there for you, Wayne and Kathy McFarland.

Wayne McFarland

Your family has our deepest condolences. God bless you all during this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Matt & Lora

Matt & Lora Schoenholtz

This morning was spent in a heartfelt celebration of our dear friend Lorie, who graced this world for 91 years. Lorie dedicated every single moment of her life to embracing its fullness and spreading happiness to everyone she encountered. Her departure from this world last week was peaceful, enveloped by the love of her family. My heart is filled with countless joyful memories of my beloved friend. Together, we shared a love for singing, a pastime that always brought smiles and laughter. She had a unique ability to understand and appreciate Kenny's jokes, eagerly awaiting the next one. Lorie's capacity for emotional sharing was boundless; she was never afraid to shed tears or laugh until tears flowed. I can still hear her voice, tenderly saying, "I love you." To Lorie, no one was ever a stranger; she had the remarkable gift of filling any room with her infectious humor and joy, making everyone feel valued and loved. As we say farewell, "RIP my dear friend," we acknowledge the indelible mark she’s left on our hearts. Her presence was a gift, her memory a treasure. You were indeed her world, and she, a vibrant soul who lived truly present among us.

Linda and Ken Weinstock

Rob, Olga and Brad, I first want to say I’m so sorry for sending this so late. I just watched the funeral which was a beautiful service and tribute to your Mom.

I’ll always have cherished memories of Aunt Lore (which is what I called her) through pictures, poems, collages and conversations. I’m so glad I got to see her last year when I visited my Dad. It was a beautiful visit and I cherished our phone conversations since then. There’s so much to say about her but would take up so much space, lol!
We did talk on the phone about 2-3 weeks before she passed and had such a fun conversation filled with love and laughter. Every time I called she would say “I love hearing your laugh. You just made my day” and I would tell her the same.
She will always be in my heart. ♥️

Lori Fannin