Obituary for Lillian Shapiro
Lillian Shapiro
8/14/1933 – 11/6/2021
Lillian Shapiro, passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 6, 2021 at the age of 88, after a long illness. She was a loving wife, mother of two children, and grandmother of four grandchildren.
Lillian was born on August 14, 1933 in Moscow, Russia to Ilya and Sirafima Shapiro. She was only eight years old when World War II began and her family was forced to flee their home to escape the Nazi occupation.
After the war, Lillian returned to her native Moscow and graduated from Moscow State University with a highest degree medal and master’s degree in Civil Engineering which she practiced for many years. She was happily married to Yakov Aizenberg for over 50 years and celebrated with renewal of their vows under a Chuppah according-to the Jewish traditions, surrounded by family and friends. She is survived by her brother Boris Shapiro, children, Arkady and Svetlana.
After witnessing the horrible events of Nazi occupation, Lillian was determined to raise the awareness of the Holocaust and Nazi atrocities which were denied by the Soviet government and were little known of in the country at the time. Along with her husband, she traveled through Ukraine and Russia on a mission to find unidentified mass graves of the Jews murdered by Nazi and share the information with the world.
All the documents are now held in the Illinois Holocaust Museum.
After their children emigrated to America in 1980, Lillian and Yakov were denied exit visas and became Refuseniks for 10 long years before reuniting with their family in Chicago.
Lillian had a passion for education, art, music, theater, cooking, and fashion. But most importantly, she loved her family and her grandchildren - she dedicated her life to raising wonderful grandchildren - Daniel and Elliot, both achieving their dream of becoming Medical doctors and Alexandra and Anna also becoming professionals.
She loved music and was very proud of Daniel becoming award winning piano player and musician.
They were greatly influenced by her love, kindness, wisdom, devotion, and sense of humor.
Lillian’s memories will be a blessing, they will be forever in our hearts.
Lillian will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Graveside Services will be held on Wednesday November 10, 2021, 1:30PM at Sunset Memorial Lawns, 3100 Shermer Road, Northbrook, IL. The funeral can be viewed on Lillian’s webpage at www.mitzvahfunerals.com live, or any time after the service.
8/14/1933 – 11/6/2021
Lillian Shapiro, passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 6, 2021 at the age of 88, after a long illness. She was a loving wife, mother of two children, and grandmother of four grandchildren.
Lillian was born on August 14, 1933 in Moscow, Russia to Ilya and Sirafima Shapiro. She was only eight years old when World War II began and her family was forced to flee their home to escape the Nazi occupation.
After the war, Lillian returned to her native Moscow and graduated from Moscow State University with a highest degree medal and master’s degree in Civil Engineering which she practiced for many years. She was happily married to Yakov Aizenberg for over 50 years and celebrated with renewal of their vows under a Chuppah according-to the Jewish traditions, surrounded by family and friends. She is survived by her brother Boris Shapiro, children, Arkady and Svetlana.
After witnessing the horrible events of Nazi occupation, Lillian was determined to raise the awareness of the Holocaust and Nazi atrocities which were denied by the Soviet government and were little known of in the country at the time. Along with her husband, she traveled through Ukraine and Russia on a mission to find unidentified mass graves of the Jews murdered by Nazi and share the information with the world.
All the documents are now held in the Illinois Holocaust Museum.
After their children emigrated to America in 1980, Lillian and Yakov were denied exit visas and became Refuseniks for 10 long years before reuniting with their family in Chicago.
Lillian had a passion for education, art, music, theater, cooking, and fashion. But most importantly, she loved her family and her grandchildren - she dedicated her life to raising wonderful grandchildren - Daniel and Elliot, both achieving their dream of becoming Medical doctors and Alexandra and Anna also becoming professionals.
She loved music and was very proud of Daniel becoming award winning piano player and musician.
They were greatly influenced by her love, kindness, wisdom, devotion, and sense of humor.
Lillian’s memories will be a blessing, they will be forever in our hearts.
Lillian will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Graveside Services will be held on Wednesday November 10, 2021, 1:30PM at Sunset Memorial Lawns, 3100 Shermer Road, Northbrook, IL. The funeral can be viewed on Lillian’s webpage at www.mitzvahfunerals.com live, or any time after the service.