Shirley Bernstein

Shirley (Polian) Bernstein, formerly of Wayland, Newton and Yarmouth, MA., and Boca Raton, Fl., passed away on October 29, 2016, at age 91, following a 20 year struggle with Alzheimer's disease. She was the beloved daughter of the late Ralph Polian, a Pharmacist, and the late Fanny (Waldfogel) Polian, who managed the business side of the pharmacy her husband owned while at home raising her daughters and later while caring for her elderly mother and father-in-law who lived with her and her husband. Shirley continued this tradition by moving her mother into her home, after her father died, and by taking care of her until her mother's death. She was the sister of the late Doris Glassman. She was the cherished wife of 56 years of the late Dr.Murray Bernstein, a noted Orthodontist and Professor of Orthodontics and the Clinical Director of the Boston University Graduate School of Orthodontics.Shirley was the devoted and beloved mother of Diane Homer and her husband Marc Homer M.D. of Wayland, of Ellen Bernstein, and of Lauren Bernstein and her husband Darryl Vernon of Chappaqua, N.Y. She was the adored grandmother of Ross Homer and his wife Melissa of Concord and Seth Homer M.D. of Boston, and of Austen Vernon and Eli Vernon of Chappaqua, and the great grandmother of Alana and Shayna Homer. Shirley received her degree in Speech Therapy from Emerson College and worked in the Lynn school system until she had children. While raising her three daughters, in Newton, she devoted herself to philanthropic activity. She was an active fundraiser and the leader of several organizations. Some of the organizations she was a founding member of and served as president were; Women's Aid for Cancer Research, Women's Heart Fund (American Heart Association), and Aid for Speech Therapy. When her children went to college, Shirley was recruited for the program at Boston's Children's Hospital to be trained in Speech Therapy with autistic children. She spent the rest of her career working with autistic children in a program in the Arlington Schools. At her retirement party, the families of numerous children who had not spoken until their work with Shirley, presented to her a memory book about each child she had helped to communicate with words. It was a very touching tribute to someone that they felt, through her kindness and skill and patience, had made miracles happen. Funeral services at Temple Shir Tikva, 141 Boston Post Road, Wayland, MA 01778 on Sunday, November 6 at 2:00 PM with burial at Beit Olam Cemetery, Wayland. Following interment, memorial observance will be at the home of Diane and Marc Homer until 9:00 PM Sunday and will continue on Monday 2-5 and 7-9 PM, with minyan at 7 each evening. Donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Society at 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA. 02472. Please direct your donations to the fund set up in memory of Shirley Bernstein.