Natalie Jean Shapiro's Obituary
Shapiro, Natalie Jean (96) of Brooklyn Center, MN, and Leesburg, FL, died October 29, 2022. Preceded by parents, Samuel & Sophie Pogoler, and son, Michael Shapiro; survived by sisters, Diane Garetz (Hopkins, MN) and Rollie (Mason) Frank, (Kibbutz Ein Harod Ihud, Israel); son, David Shapiro (St. Paul, MN); daughter and son-in-law, Debra and Michael Schumacher (Leesburg, FL); granddaughter, Carly Schumacher (Minneapolis, MN); grandson, Aaron Schumacher (Port St. Lucie, FL); daughter, Marie Delaney, nieces, nephews, cousins, chosen family and heartfelt friends.
Born July 26, 1926, in St. Paul, MN, Natalie was surrounded by extended family, all living in the same neighborhood. As a child she would often run away, down the street to her Auntie Goldie’s to be treated with her delicious cookies. Natalie had lifelong friends who in college formed the IotaMuPi sorority (the IMPs). She was a voracious reader and loved books so much that she became a public librarian. After marrying, as her children grew older, she worked in retail sales at Dayton’s department store. Natalie returned to school and studied interior design, then built her house from inception to blueprints to overseeing builders and contractors. She designed and incorporated several innovative features that were unique and well ahead of their time. Later, she became a travel agent and fulfilled her dream of seeing the world. Natalie was one of the first Westerners to visit China when they opened their country to tourism, and she also explored (amongst other places) Israel, Egypt, and Great Britain. Her final occupation was as a braille librarian at Minnesota State Services for the Blind. She read braille by sight rather than touch and showed her sense of humor with a bumper sticker on her car that read, “Driver reads braille.” Natalie had two dogs that she adored. She brought home a miniature Schnauzer puppy on Halloween and, when he got into trouble, like her other children she’d call him by his full name, Spooker MacPherson Shapiro. After Spooker died, she eventually adopted a sweet, gentle Doberman Pincher from the Animal Humane Society named Sisu (means courage in Finnish). Sisu would try to squeeze all 80 pounds of dog onto Natalie’s lap for cuddles. Sisu was also a wonderful babysitter for Natalie’s baby granddaughter, Carly. Natalie served as President of her B’nai Brith Women chapter and was a lifelong Hadassah member. She loved entertaining, planning and hosting parties to celebrate family events and holidays. Natalie enjoyed any opportunity to spend time with her many friends – going to lunch, playing cards, and especially playing mahjongg.
A shiva service and gathering to celebrate her life will be held Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. Central Time, at the Rosewood West Apartments' Community Room, 460 Fifth Avenue North, Hopkins, Minnesota 55343. For those unable to attend in person, a Zoom link can be obtained by registering in advance at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEufuChqzIjGNZxRqnhsX8oQ-UQ_4pO_MEK
(After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.)
Memorials to public libraries.
This obituary can be found on Obituaries | Page-Theus Funeral Home and Cremation Services - Leesburg, FL (pagetheusfuneralhome.com)
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