Irene Sorkin Schaffer, a Denver resident since 1978, passed away Sept. 8, 2010, in Denver.
Rabbis Selwyn Franklin, Benjamin Last and Yaakov Meyer officiated at the Sept. 8 graveside service at Mt. Nebo Cemetery. Shalom Funeral Services made the arrangements.
Despite suffering from MS for 45 years, Mrs. Schaffer enjoyed life to the fullest.
She like to knit, crochet, needlepoint, read and bake, says her daughter Illona Weiman. Every Purim she would bake two kinds of hamantashen: one with yeast dough that Dad liked, and the other with cookie dough for the kids.
Irene Sorkin was born June 27, 1931, in Milwaukee, Wisc. She graduated Harrison High in Chicago and received her associates degree from Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland.
She married Irving Schaffer on Valentines Day, Feb. 14, 1954, in Cleveland. They were married for 56 years.
In Chicago, Mrs. Schaffer was a secretary for MGM and met several movie stars.
She taught preschool at Ganon Gil and at the JCC in Cleveland.
I saw Mom save a child from drowning at Spring Lake Park in Cleveland when we were children, remembers daughter Sheila Belter.
She also worked as a bookkeeper for her husbands piano technician business in Cleveland and Denver.
Mrs. Schaffer is survived by her husband Irving Schaffer of Denver; children Jeffrey Schaffer of Holon, Israel, Sheila (Chuck) Belter of Denver and Illona Weiman of Greenwood Village; grandchildren Jake Weiman and Aaron Weiman of Greenwood Village and Julie Belter and Robert Belter of Denver; and sister-in-law Hedi Schaffer of Denver.
Contributions may be made to BMH-BJ, Aish Denver or the National MS Society, Colorado chapter.
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