Esther P. (Pasarevsky) Gorfine

It is with great sorrow that we mark the peaceful passing of Esther (Pasarevsky) Gorfine on September 19, 2021. Her life was lived with warmth, zest, intelligence and dignity. Born in Russia in 1922, she emigrated to the United States in 1924, arriving in Boston with her parents, Abraham and Masha, and her older brother, Rubin. The family joined relatives in Baltimore, where she grew up as somewhat of a southern belle. A younger sister, Lillian was born one year later.

With the outbreak of World War II, Esther worked for the government at the Office of Price Administration (OPA).

She further contributed to the war effort as a nurse’s aide and volunteer air raid warden. Her only call to duty in the latter capacity occurred when she tried to stop a responding police car and was ignominiously told to get out of the way.

A coworker at the OPA wrote a letter to a dashing Captain in the Army Medical Corps, Morris Gorfine, setting them up on a blind date. She married Morry in June of 1945. Morry kept that letter of introduction, written with the prettiest penmanship ever, in his medical office safe where it was discovered 60 years later.

Esther was the mother of three, the grandmother of six and the great grandmother of three. She and Morry traveled the world, visiting Russia and Asia and many other exotic places. When not traveling, taking care of the kids or running their house in Newton, Esther worked with Morry as the manager of his medical office.

In her later years, she spent the vast majority of her time as “Meme”, the matriarch of the extended family. She was kind, giving and funny. She will be missed.

Graveside services at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon on Wednesday, September 22 at 1:45pm. In keeping with the cemetery rules on Covid, despite being outdoors, masks are required for all attendees regardless of vaccination status.

Shiva will begin at Meme's house after the funeral until 8pm and continue on Thursday, September 23 from 2-8pm. Masks are required at shiva for protection of children and all others compromised.