Bernice S. Shapiro

Bernice, lovingly known as “Bunny,” was born on June 20, 1935 to Leon and Edith Smith in Memphis, Tennessee. At the age of 13, Bunny met Morton Shapiro at a weenie roast, and they were immediately smitten. The couple wed in 1955, Mort graduated Medical School in 1957, and they raised three children in Rockville, MD. Their love affair lasted well over 70 years.

Bunny loved to host family and friends at their home, swim at the MAC, shop, and play Mahjong with friends.

After graduating from high school, Bunny went to nursing school at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, graduating in1956. She worked as a nurse at Sinai Hospital and Holy Cross Hospital in the surgical recovery unit. Bunny was very proud to be an art docent, leading tours at The Museum of American Art.

Bunny and Mort remained living independently in their home in Rockville until 2014, when they moved to Riderwood Village. Bunny loved taking art classes at Riderwood and was an active member of the Riderwood Jewish Community.

Bunny was predeceased by her grandparents, parents, older brother, husband, and a nephew. She is survived by her three children Sari Hurdle (Gerry-deceased), Andrea Karp (Robert), and Mark Shapiro (Andrea), six grandchildren Laura, Emily, Celia, Samuel, David and Jonathan, and four great-grandchildren Maverick, Thomasin, Mischa, and Serena.

Burial will be at George Washington Mt. Lebanon Cemetery at 2:00 on May 28, and a Memorial Service and reception will be held at the Riderwood Village Chapel at 3:30 following. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Riderwood Jewish Community, or Montgomery Hospice, an organization that helped care for Bunny and Mort at the end of their lives.