Love Poem: Tribute
Gershon Wolf Avatar
Written by: Gershon Wolf

Tribute

It began with her dear husband Yudi
The first Nathan we'd ever met--
  His friendly smile, his charming wit
  Helped my wife and me forget--
That OUR families were not all intact.

He invited us for a Sabbath meal
Where we met his lovely wife--
  She served us homemade soup and other fare
  All prepared with a momma's special care--
Shirley Nathan had just enriched our life. 

The Nathan place became our second home
We became regular Sabbath guests there
  In bits and pieces we learned of Shirley's life
  Of her selfless service to her family  
  --and to people everywhere.

In a word or two, she was beloved
Of family, friends, of students one and all
  She loved us, cared for us, taught us--
  Thanks to her, we stood tall, never small.

Shirley was my wife's best friend
A friend both firm and steadfast
  A person she could count on in a pinch
  Their friendship, my wife sensed, would forever last...

And that it did, to her dying day
When Shirley Nathan was laid to rest--
  A woman, a wife, a mother, a teacher,
  A grandma, a friend to all who reached her
    A woman for the ages
    The very best of the best!
    R.I.P. now, dear Shirley
 ~ With love from all you've blessed.


    Shirley Nathan passed from this world to the next
    on the first night of Channukah, 2018 (5778)
    surrounded by her adoring family, at age 86,
           not a wrinkle lined her joyous face!