Eleanor Shait

A Holocaust survivor, Eleanor endured unimaginable hardship at a young age. Eleanor was born in Czernowitz, Romania. Her parents were separated at the beginning of WWII and were miraculously able to reconnect at a displaced persons camp in Austria following the war. With courage and determination, she built her life after the war, arriving in Montreal, Canada with her beloved parents, Moishe and Rosa.

In Montreal, Eleanor met her husband David and married in 1958. They worked side by side as small business owners for many years. Together they balanced the demands of business with the joys and responsibilities of raising their two sons, Issie and Seymour. She loved going back to visit Montreal and stopping by her favorite Snowdon Deli for a smoked meat sandwich.

In an effort to create a better life for their family, they left Montreal and moved to Richmond, VA, and then subsequently Schenectady, NY. In 2001, after the passing of her beloved husband David who she was married to for 43 years, she built a new life for herself in Newton, MA where she was closer to her sons and family. The past two and a half years at Golda Meir House was a joyous time in her life, making close friends, teaching Yiddish, and participating in chair yoga and Zumba. Her strength was quiet but unshakable.

She is lovingly survived by her sons, Issie and his wife Cathy, and Seymour and his partner Virginia. She was the cherished grandmother of Rebecca and Matthew and his wife Victoria. Her family honors her memory and the sacrifices she made for them.

Eleanor’s life stands as a testament to survival, rebuilding, and partnership. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

A graveside service will be private.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Magen David Adom - AFMDA, https://afmda.org/