Elaine Shimansky

Elaine M. Shimansky (nee Zarra) of Berkeley Township passed peacefully from us on June 30, 2013. She was born in Newark, New Jersey and moved as a girl with her family to Belleville. Elaine graduated from Belleville High School where she had met the love of her life, Jerry Shimansky. Elaine and Jerry spent the next 55 years gathering friends with every stop.

In her early adult years, she was a stay at home wife and mother - always putting her family first. Many happy times were spent at White Meadow Lake and camping with extended family and friends. Later, Elaine went to work for and eventually retired from Prudential Insurance Company. Those summers were spent in the "circle" of her sister, sisters- and brother-in-laws, nieces and nephews and friends on the beach in Sea Isle City.

In retirement, Elaine was busier than ever, often remarking that she did not know how she ever found time to work. Following the warm weather between New Jersey and Estero, Florida, she enjoyed golfing, water aerobics, mahjong with her girlfriends, shopping - particularly with her sisters, entertaining and traveling.

Elaine was the hub of her family. Two of her grandchildren named after her. She had the unique ability to make each friend and family member feel as if they were the most important person to her. She rejoiced in all of her loved ones milestones, achievements and successes.

She leaves her husband and partner in life of 55 years, Gerald Shimansky (together 60 years), her son and his wife, Michael and Lee Shimansky, her daughters and their husbands, Karen and Fred Davis and Laurie and Michael Williams. She is predeceased by her son, Jerry Shimansky. Her ten grandchildren were the light of her life - Kaitlin, Michael, Drew and Tierney Shimansky, Evan and James Doran, Lane Davis, Zarra, Tully Ann and Michael Williams. Also left to mourn are her two sisters, Joyce Santangelo and Lorraine Callahan, her brothers- and sisters-in-law and many, many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her sisters, Geraldine Rega and Diane Zarra and her brother, Julius Zarra.

The family will receive visitors on Thursday, July 4th from 3:00pm - 8:00pm at Quinn-Hoping Funeral Home on Mule Road, Berkeley Township. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, July 5th at 11:30am at St Maximilian Kolbe Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society - Relay for Life, Karen's Krew, Berkeley Township, 2310 Route 34, Suite 1D, Manasquan, New Jersey 08736.