Zinaida Shnayder

Zinaida (Zina) Grigorievna Shnayder was born on June 7th, 1946 in Moscow, Russia, and passed peacefully in her sleep on December 2nd, 2025, from chronic kidney disease. Her mother Anna (Chana), was born in Kharkiv, Ukraine in 1915 and passed away in Brookline, MA in 2004. Her father Grigoriy (Gershon) was born in Belarus in 1904, and passed away in Brookline, MA in 1983. Zina attended school and university in Moscow, where she obtained her MS in engineering.

Zina married Marlen Shnayder (deceased 2013) in 1973 and had one son – Ilya – in 1975. The family emigrated as Jewish refugees from the Soviet Union to the United States in 1981, and settled in Brookline, MA. Zina lived in Brookline for almost 20 years. She first worked as a nail stylist, before going back to school to become a medical assistant. In her new role, she worked for the office of Dr. Richard Brodie in Brookline, MA. Zina retired in 2005 and moved to Holyoke, MA to help her son with his real estate businesses. She then moved to Millis, MA to be close to her first grandson when he was born in 2006.

A true American patriot, Zina loved her adopted country, and was also a proud, outspoken supporter of the state of Israel. She loved staying up on current events, and listening to classical music. She also spent a great deal of time online, chatting with many friends from all over the world. Her son and grandsons were the greatest joy of her life, and she was immeasurably proud of them and everything they accomplished.

She is survived by her son Ilya Shnayder and his partner Nadezda Musatova; her sister Vera Tsirelson and her husband Boris; her niece Ellina Tsirelson-Beletsky and her partner Joe DeTrolio; her grandsons Harrison, Maxwell, and Alexander; her cousin Roman Baran and his wife Elena, and their children: Ilya Baran and wife Anna Sher, and Inna Baran and husband Alex Shapeton.

She was laid to rest in Prospect Hill Cemetery in Millis, MA on December 4th.