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Loretta "Lorie" Iris Shapiro
November 17, 1932 - May 22, 2024
Date and Time
Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at 10:00 AM
Service
Chicago Jewish Funerals
Skokie Chapel
8851 Skokie Boulevard
Skokie, Illinois 60077
Get Directions
Clergy
Rabbi Anne Persin
Interment
Westlawn Cemetery
7801 West Montrose Avenue
Norridge, Illinois 60706
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Shiva
Bob & Olga Bensman Residence
3150 Warbler Place
Highland Park, Illinois 60035
Get Directions
Wednesday from 4:00PM - 8:00PM
If you would like to contribute to the Shiva, please venmo Randi Berger -
@randi-shivaladies or Zelle 773.742.2702
OBITUARY
Loretta Iris Mazur Bensman Shapiro, age 91
Loving mother of Robert (Olga) Bensman, Bradley, and Steven. Proud grandmother of Adam (Sheena) Bensman, David Bensman and Jason Bensman, Josh (Jackie) Mazur, Leah (Reza) Mohammadkhani, Sadie Mazur. Adored great-grandmother of Bella (Raven) and Mia Bensman, Violet and Rumi Mohammadkhani, Sophia, Rachel, and Eli Mazur. Dear sister of Ross Mazur. Cherished aunt of Mark Mazur (Catherine), Daniel Mazur (Debbie), and Lori (Neal) Fannin. Dedicated, loving caregiver and honorary family member Tammy Williams.
Service May 29, 2024 at 10AM at Chicago Jewish Funerals, 8851 Skokie Blvd(at Niles Center Road), Skokie.
Interment Westlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Illinois Holocaust Museum, www.ilholocaustmuseum.org, Jewish National Fund, www.jnf.org, or the charity of your choice.
To attend the funeral live stream or to leave a memory please visit www.chicagojewishfunerals.com
Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822,www.cjfinfo.com
GUEST BOOK
Rachel Caldwell
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
Rest well Lori., I will miss our chats.
Carrie Demery
Peter Dougherty
Be well,
Josh & Catherine
Josh & Catherine Kanter
Paul Hinds Josie Tenore
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
Thomas Bronowski
MaryLou Wahlberg
Sandy Nidetz
Arlene Wineberg
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
She will be missed!
Gary Johnson
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
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
Deanne Huynh
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
Patricia McCue
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
Wayne McFarland
Sincerely,
Matt & Lora
Matt & Lora Schoenholtz
Linda and Ken Weinstock
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