ZARUM, LILLIAN SHOCKET, 96, passed away Wednesday, November 28, 2018. She was the beloved wife of the late Sanford S. Zarum. Born in Providence, a daughter of the late Harry and Rose (Zeidman) Shocket she lived in Providence her entire life. She died peacefully but unexpectedly despite her age. She was one of the last of her generation of women who married young, saw husbands go off to war, worked to pick up the slack and then return to the role of wives and mothers when the men came back home. They were a group of strong willed women who took nothing for granted. They even lived through the depression carrying those memories with them throughout their lives.
She was a consummate volunteer in her community and was one of a small group of women who started the Miriam Hospital’s Gift Shop. Lillian had a gift for working with her hands and she used that skill to help stroke patients by teaching them to wrap presents and tie ribbon for therapy. There was no formal program back in the ‘50’s and she improvised manual dexterity for them and was an occupational therapist of sorts. She would drive all over Providence with her children in tow visiting patients at their homes helping them with their recovery.
Her friends eventually would ask her to wrap their packages for birthdays, holidays, weddings and for other occasions. Her talent became widespread and she was able to develop a hobby into a line of work. She became a party and event planner back in the days when no such business existed. She schooled many a florist who later became famous and moved onto Boston and New York. Her taste was elegant and understated in a day when less was more. There are brides who to this day still remember how she calmed them down and pushed them out the door with confidence for the long walk down the aisle at their own ceremonies. She was so devoted to her work that she even completed a scheduled wedding ten days after her surgery for lung cancer over twenty-three years ago. She was beloved by not only her family but also those she helped and met throughout her life. Everyone who knew her loved her warmth and honesty. She was a well respected woman.
She is survived by her daughters Lynn Weingroff and Dee Dee Witman; grandchildren Jackie Gershwind, Samantha Friedland, Zachary Witman; and Amanda Speiser; and great-grandchildren Jake, Sophie, and Max Gershwind, Emmanuelle, Juliette and Hershel Friedland, and Goldie Speiser.
Funeral services will be held Monday, December 3rd at 12:00PM at Temple Beth-El, 70 Orchard Ave, Providence with burial in Lincoln Park Cemetery, Warwick. In lieu of flowers contributions in her memory may be made to the Lillian Zarum Oncology Wig Fund at Miriam Hospital, 164 Summit Ave, Providence, RI 02906. Shiva will be held Monday following services at 7-9 PM at Laurelmead, 355 Blackstone Blvd, Providence.
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