RITA (LEVENTHAL) SHNAYER
November 14, 1926-April 15, 2020
Rita Leventhal Shnayer, resident of Greenacres, Florida, formerly of New Haven, Connecticut and Chico, California, passed away April 15, 2020 at the age of 93. She was the loving mother of Caron (Terry) Gregg and Alvin “Al” (LeeAnn) Shnayer; dear sister of Sidney Leventhal, Hilda Mart, Norma Klein, and Riselle “Rissy” Zeiper. Al and Caron were winging their way to be with her for hospice care which was to begin the next day at her home, when she died unexpectedly from severe intestinal infection at a rehabilitation facility.
A crypt side service was held on Monday, April 20, 2020 at Eternal Light Memorial Gardens, Boynton Beach, FL. She was buried with Al, Caron, a Rabbi and just a minyan present, albeit all at safe distances apart. Her only living sister, Hilda age 97, listened to the funeral at home via a cell phone. A family member videoed the funeral for her also.
Shiva was done individually, due to the virus and the age of those that attended. A candle was also put in the window of her home. Arrangements have been entrusted to Alexander-Levitt Funerals & Cremations. Please go to their website for Rita’s obituary and to leave messages of condolence: www.levitt-weinstein.com/obituaries/Rita-Shnayer/#!/Obituary
Rita (Rivka) was born November 14, 1926 to George and Hanna Baker (Bakarski) Leventhal in New Haven, Connecticut where she grew up. Her Father was from Germany and her Mother was born in a village near Kiev, which was burned during a pogrom. Her mother arrived in America at the age of eight years. Rita, third child of five, had four siblings, Sidney Leventhal, Hilda (Mart), Norma (Klein), and Rissell "Rissy" (Zeiper), and ten nieces and nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents, three siblings, and her husband of 64 years, Sidney “Sid” Shnayer.
She lived much of her adult life in Chico, California, where she and Sidney, a professor at CSU, Chico, raised a family (see photo), and helped found the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue there. Among many charitable activities and contributions to the community, she was part of the creation of The Discovery Shoppe and volunteered at Enloe Hospital including hospice care. Rita Shnayer is named in the 1/23/1969 Congressional Record pg. 1709, where she was nominated by Rep. Bizz Johnson for a Douglas McArthur Scholarship Foundation service award.
Irv and Nitsa Schiffman shared this memory of her contributions and photo in the Congregation Beth Israel (CBI) newsletter:
Rita Shnayer was the heart and soul of our CBI community for many years. Rita was the one opening the door for services and greeting people as they entered. She took much joy in feeding the congregation and organizing joyous and fundraising occasions, including CBI’s front lawn rummage sales (our “big” fundraiser before the Silent Auction). When Sadie Martin was no longer able, she took over the treasurer job and kept the books in her notebook ledger. She opened her home to Jewish students and with her hearty laughter made everyone feel welcomed. One Jewish student, Nitsa, sewed her wedding dress on Rita’s sewing machine. In this 1969 photo Rita is helping prepare the newly purchased building on Hemlock Street for it to serve as Congregation Beth Israel’s first true home.
Sidney and Rita retired to Greenacres, Florida some 30 years ago to be near family. They bought a home there. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sid, who is also encrypted there. Rita was active in Hadassah and her synagogues, and lived happily in her home and community until her passing.
Al described Rita as “a loving wife and mother, known for always being friendly and very welcoming.”
