Helene Shafman
Ledyard — Helene Golda (Glazier) Shafman, 83, died peacefully surrounded by the love of her family on Monday, Sept. 4, 2017, after a long and courageous battle with multiple myeloma.
She was born on Dec. 11, 1933, to Hattie and Maurice Glazier in Hartford. She grew up in Hartford and moved to Ledyard with her then-husband, the late Joel Shafman, where she raised her four children. A graduate of Central Connecticut State Teachers’ College, she taught first grade for 40 years at Ledyard Center School. She became a reading specialist, receiving her 6th year in reading from the University of Connecticut. After retirement, she continued to share her love of reading by tutoring the young and the old.
Her love for the beach brought her family to Eastern Point Beach every summer for many years. She also enjoyed decades of memorable summer vacations boating and clamming in Wellfleet, Cape Cod, with her late sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and David Gross. An avid traveler, she made trips to Block Island every summer and she visited her wonderful friends in Sarasota, Fla. each winter. She traveled to Europe frequently, her most recent trip being to the Amalfi Coast, where she took cooking lessons in 2015. She was active throughout her life, playing in multiple bridge clubs and being a member of and participating on the board of the Shoreline Sailing Club and her condominium association.
Cooking was Helene’s specialty. She made the most delicious home-cooked meals for family and friends, especially her spaghetti and meatballs. Her baking was like no other, especially her home made crust for her apple and pumpkin pies at Thanksgiving. Everyone she met became a friend. Whether you knew her as “Ma,” “Mom,” “Mema,” “Granny,” Helene, or Mrs. Shafman, she was able to build sincere and long-lasting relationships with everyone she came in contact with. Her many close friends, including the teachers of Ledyard Center School, her group of “Ya-Ya’s,” her bridge clubs, her sailing clubs and her past students, were all very important to her. She will be long remembered for her ready and genuine smile, her dimples and her big blue eyes.
She was a loving and giving mother, grandmother, sister and aunt who will be deeply missed. She leaves behind her daughter, Nancy (Jim) Kramer; and sons, Timothy (Mary Donlon) Shafman, William Shafman and Peter Shafman; her six granddaughters, Olivia, Savannah, Lucy, Maggie, Eva, Lexi; and one grandson, Cole. She is survived by her beloved sister, Francine (Diddy) Thierfeld; five nieces and nephews, and far too many cherished friends to count.
She was also predeceased by her brother, William Glazier.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Special Olympics or the American Diabetes Association.
Burial will take place at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, at Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic. Immediately following, a celebration of life will take place at the Mystic Marriott Hotel and Spa in Groton.