Obituary of Helen Ruth Zinik Shapiro

Helen Ruth Zinik Shapiro, Highlands Ranch, CO; Wife of the late Jack Shapiro; Mother of Lorie Hamermesh (Richard) and Sandy Friedland (Tom); Grandmother of Josh Hamermesh, Molli Hourihan (Steve), Michelle Friedland (Dan Kelly), David Friedland (Sarah Davis), Benjamin Friedland (Deborah Karasek) and Adam Shapiro; Great-grandmother of Jacob and Brad Hamermesh, Jonah and Ella Hourihan, Sierra and Max Kelly, Jackson and Noah Friedland and Oscar Friedland Sister of Verner Zinik (Dona). Also survived by her daughter-in-law Sydnee "Shane" Shapiro. Predeceased by her son Don Shapiro. Everyone who knew Helen will remember what a bright, beautiful and thoughtful person she was. She was born in Denver but moved with her family to Salt Lake City when she was 13. She graduated from Stanford University in 1945 with a degree in sociology. Her Aunt Lena (Zinik) Robinson was married to Jack’s uncle Lazar Robinson. That “double aunt and uncle” played matchmaker, introducing Helen and Jack in November 1945. They were engaged by Valentine’s Day and were married April 9, 1946. They settled in Denver, where Helen remained after Jack’s death in 1990. Helen devoted her life to Jack and her three children and to her mother Sadye (Cook) Zinik who moved to Denver after David Zinik died in 1965. She was an active volunteer throughout her life, including at the JCC, Hospice of Metro Denver, and the Denver Public Schools. She also worked in the family business at the Kwal Paint store on So. Colorado Blvd. She was a great skier and made sure that her whole family learned the sport, including Jack in his mid-forties! She loved going to the mountains all year long, and always enjoyed watching sunsets, hearing streams, and smelling the clean air in the Rockies. When her grandchildren started to arrive, she took on a passionate new role, maybe her best ever, as “Mommy Helen.” She got a special airline ticket that allowed her to take unlimited flights each year so she could visit those grandchildren as often as possible. She also had many, many aunts, uncles, and cousins in Denver, all of whom adored her. She had an especially close relationship with her sister-in-law Sylvia (Shapiro) Ginsburg. The two of them saw each other every day and often traveled together. All her family and friends will always treasure their memories of this special woman, who put everyone else’s needs before her own. Service, Friday, 2:00PM, Temple Emanuel-Feiner Chapel, 51 Grape St.; Interment Golden Hill Cemetery. Contributions to JEWISHcolorado, Denver Jewish Community Center, or the Alzheimer’s Association