Marjorie (Mirl) Schonhaut Hirshan's Obituary
Marjorie (Mirl) Schonhaut Hirshan, 87, loving matriarch, author, artist, and long-time resident of Boynton Beach, Fla., passed away May 11, 2016 at her daughter’s home in Evanston, Ill., with family at her side.
Born January 21, 1929 in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Simon and Sarah Esther (Kotler) Schonhaut, Marj attended Workmen’s Circle Yiddish High School in New York City in addition to public school. Always passionate about learning, Marj earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Brooklyn College, where she met the love of her life, Stanley Robert “Bob” Hirshan, when he tripped her on the steps coming out of the library. They married and made their home in the Canarsie neighborhood of Brooklyn near the schools where they both worked, Marj as a teacher and Bob as a principal. She taught elementary school for 10 years, then became a full-time homemaker, and founded and led the Workmen’s Circle Yiddish school in Canarsie. Marj spent summers trailering around all 48 contiguous states and Mexico with her family.
After retirement to Boynton Beach, Marj enjoyed painting, sculpting, batiking and writing. Her work has been published in Moment and Lilith magazines, The Forward and the Palm Beach Post. Her novel, Once Upon a Shtetl, shares the history and Jewish traditions of her family. She lectured for Brandeis University National Women’s Committee and designed a Women’s Hagaddah and seder for the local chapter. She founded and chaired a beloved Yiddish Club for Palm Shores retirement community, as well as a book club, and community newspaper.
The family includes her daughter Jennifer Cline and husband Tom of Evanston, Ill., son Adam Hirshan and wife Elaine of Gilford, N.H.; niece Faith Tessler and husband Scott of Tarzana, Calif.; nephew Steven Appelbaum of Los Angeles; nephew Bruce Hirshan and wife Laurie of Demarest, NJ; nephew Jonathan Hirshan of Garden City, NY; and niece, the late Jody Hirshan Press of Boca Raton, FL; granddaughters Julie, Grace, Alison and Madeline Hirshan, and Lauren and Emily Cline.
Funeral services will take place 1:45PM Friday May 20, 2016 at Beth Israel Memorial Chapel, 11115 Jog Rd., Boynton Beach, Florida 33437 followed by a private interment.
In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in Marj’s name to Yiddish Book Center, 1021 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002.
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