Aaron Shapiro and Martha Shapiro

Aaron Shapiro: Dec. 24, 1917 - Nov. 19, 2001

Martha Shapiro: Oct. 30, 1919 - April 24, 1974

Aaron and Martha were married: June 2, 1946 - April 24, 1974.

Aaron Shapiro was the best husband, father, and grandfather in the world. He was a real mensch and an amazing role model for his family.

Martha Doris Englander was the best wife and mother in the world. She had a pure, gentle soul, and a loving compassion towards others.

Aaron and Martha had a lot in common. They both had Jewish European ancestry: Aaron's parents were Russian, and Martha's parents were Austrian. They both grew up in New York and had six siblings.

Aaron and Martha's love story began when they met in the Catskills, New York. They both said it was love at first sight. They admired and loved each other very much and wrote each other love letters all the time. They were married on June 2, 1946 and had a beautiful marriage filled with much love, smiles, and hugs for 28 years.

Aaron and Martha looked forward to raising a family. They moved from New York to Hollywood, Florida and later to North Miami Beach, where they took loving care of their daughters Lois Jean and Marian Elinor. (Lois later went by "Jeana," a variation of her middle name. The "E" in Elinor was to honor Aaron's brother Ezra, who died as a pilot in WWII.)

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Aaron Shapiro

Aaron's life had three chapters:

* Childhood/student.

* Devoted husband/father/provider for his family. This was the happiest chapter of his life.

* Aaron had an extra chapter Martha never had: Beloved grandparent.

Aaron was born in Brooklyn, New York to Gertrude and Isadore Shapiro. He lived in New York with his parents and his six siblings: Ruth, Alvin (Abie), David, Miriam, Ezra, and Daniel. He had a wonderful childhood, and he loved going to his family's retreat in Green Pastures, New York.

Aaron was very smart. He graduated from high school when he was seventeen years old, and he graduated from Brooklyn College when he was twenty. He was the only one of his siblings to go to college.

Aaron was a founding member of the Hollywood Writers Club. He was a prolific, gifted writer who wrote over 500 original stories, poems, and witticisms.

The highpoint of Aaron's life was spending time with Martha, Jeana, and Marian. He told them twist-ending stories and jokes all the time, and he taught them a coded language.

Aaron loved seeing the beautiful mountains in North Carolina, and every summer he drove his family there in his Studebaker station wagon. He taught them to appreciate the beauty of nature, and most of all, the joy of spending time together as a family.

Aaron was very proud of his family, and he loved them so much. He was a devoted husband to Martha, a wonderful father to Jeana and Marian, and an amazing grandfather to Benjamin, Rebecca, Alan, Megan, and Lara. Aaron enjoyed going to yard sales and buying his grandchildren toys, paintings, records, and books.

In 1974, Aaron and Martha went to Israel to visit Jeana who was studying there. Then the worst tragedy in Aaron's life happened: His beloved Martha unexpectedly passed away in Jerusalem. Martha was the love of his life, and he never got over his heartbreak of losing her.

Jeana immediately left Israel to go back to Florida to take care of Aaron. They had a beautiful father-daughter relationship based on love and respect. Jeana spoke to him every day and took loving care of him for the rest of his life.

Jeana, Benjamin, and Rebecca lived close to Aaron, and they shared wonderful visits all the time. Aaron's family was precious to him, and he was their hero. They treasured every moment they were together.

Aaron had an amazing, brilliant mind throughout his life, even in his eighties. He loved all the arts and had a vast knowledge of musicians, composers, and artists. He liked to solve the New York Times crossword puzzles, and he and his siblings Ruth and Abie would have a race every week to see who could solve the crossword puzzle first.

Aaron's family was heartbroken when he passed away at the age of 83. His family will always cherish every wonderful memory that they had with him. He was buried next to his beloved Martha in the Shapiro family plot in New York, just like he wanted.

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Martha Shapiro

Martha's life had two chapters:

* Childhood/student.

* Devoted wife/mother/homemaker. This was the happiest chapter of her life.

Martha was born in Hudson, New Jersey to Minnie and Morris Englander. She lived in New York with her parents and her six siblings: Gert, Norma, David, Anne, Bea, and Sarah. Martha was very popular in High School. She was President of the Hostess Club, and she was in many service clubs.

Martha was very beautiful inside and out. She was a model in Hollywood, Florida. Martha was a great cook and made delicious pepper steak. She was also a good bowler.

Martha loved Aaron, her daughters, her parents, and her whole family with all her heart, and she always took wonderful care of them. Martha was an amazing Mother to Jeana and Marian. She gave them the best hugs, and they always felt safe in her arms.

Martha made her family, friends, and everyone she met feel special and loved. Her mother Minnie stayed with Martha in Florida every winter, and Martha treated her like a queen. Everyone admired and loved Martha very much, especially her family.

Aaron and Martha went to Israel in April, 1974 to visit Jeana. Tragically, Martha passed away in Jerusalem at the age of 54. Jeana arranged for Martha's body to be brought back to the States to be buried in the family plot in New York.

After Martha passed away, the school where she worked honored her by naming the highest award that a graduating girl and boy could receive as the "Martha Shapiro Award." All the students wanted to win this award, and this special honor continued for the next 36 years. This beautiful legacy is a tribute to how much the children and staff loved and admired Martha, as did Aaron, her daughters, and everyone else who met her.

Aaron and Martha are buried next to each other in the Shapiro family plot in New York. They are together, forever.

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This is the inscription on Aaron's footstone:

GENIUS, POET, MENSCH ♥ OUR BEST FRIEND

ADMIRED, MISSED, AND LOVED FOREVER

AARON SHAPIRO

DEC. 24, 1917 - NOV. 19, 2001

DEVOTED HUSBAND AND BROTHER

CHERISHED, BEST DADDY

BELOVED, GREATEST GRANDPA

OUR HERO IS "HOME AT LAST"

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This is the inscription on Martha's footstone:

AARON'S ANGEL ♥ OUR LOVELY LADY

ADORED, MISSED, AND LOVED FOREVER

MARTHA E. SHAPIRO

OCT. 30, 1919 - APRIL 24, 1974

DEVOTED WIFE AND SISTER

BELOVED, PRECIOUS MOMMY

"REMEMBER US -

THAT WE WILL NOT FORGET"

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Aaron wanted the words: "Our hero is home at last" on his footstone. He also wanted the words: "Remember us - that we will not forget" on Martha's footstone. His family honored his wishes and inscribed these words on their footstones.

Aaron used to say, "One heart feels the next." He was right: Aaron and Martha will always live on in their family's hearts.

Sadly, Martha did not get to meet her five grandchildren, and Aaron and Martha did not get to meet their eight great-grandchildren.

As a special tribute and honor, Aaron's and Martha's grandson Benjamin Adam and great-grandson Aydon was named after Aaron, and their granddaughter Rebecca Melody and great-granddaughter Yaeli Monroe were named after Martha.

Jeana feels truly blessed that she had incredible parents like Aaron and Martha. She wrote and published a book: "Aaron and Martha: Our Hero and His Angel" to honor them and to keep their precious memories alive so that their grandchildren and great-grandchildren will always know how amazing Aaron and Martha were.

Jeana cherishes every moment she shared with her beloved parents Aaron and Martha, and she will love and miss them forever.

May Aaron's and Martha's memories always be a blessing.

♥