Shirley A. Shrut
SHRUT: Shirley A. Shrut, April 19, 1928–July 15, 2023. Shirley grew up in Donora Pennsylvania, a small town outside of Pittsburgh. The “A” — her middle initial — is for Anstandig, her maiden name. The Anstandigs owned a grocery store in Donora. Shirley plus her two older brothers and parents were part of the family business, one of the places Shirley gained her strong business acumen and warm personality. Shirley attended college at the University of Pittsburgh, and majored in English. She also pursued additional studies at the University of Wisconsin. While at Pitt, she met Martin Shrut, and it was a “fait accompli” that they would get married. They lived in Mt. Lebanon, a suburb of Pittsburgh, raising their three daughters. Plus, they had a short stint in Idaho Falls, Idaho, as Martin’s company Westinghouse transferred him there for two years. As cold as Pittsburgh was, Idaho Falls made Pittsburgh weather seem tropical. In addition to Shirley being a terrific wife and mother, she forged a career of her own. She worked for a major retail company in Pittsburgh training sales teams, and later became a successful residential real estate agent for Century 21. As the winters seemed to get colder, and more and more family lived out of state, Shirley decided to split her time between south Florida and Pittsburgh. Her winters were at Wynmoor in Coconut Creek and summers in Pittsburgh. Eventually, south Florida became her year-round residence. Shirley always enjoyed traveling, and sojourned virtually around the world. She was a voracious reader and lifelong learner. Attending live theater, opera and other classical music performances were among her favorite activities. In recent years she became an avid fan of NBA basketball. Wherever she lived, Shirley was an active leader in the Jewish community and the synagogue. Shirley built many wonderful friendships, and in her free time, played top-notch bridge. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Martin Miles Shrut; her parents Abraham and Sarah Anstandig; and her brothers, Louis Anstandig and Myer Anstandig. Her inimitable “joie de vivre” will always be remembered and cherished by her three daughters: Dr. Arlene Ruth Shrut (Gary Kendall), Nancy Shrut Matczak (Rabbi Barry Altman), and Barbara Lynn Shrut (Steven Gretenstein), and her grandchildren, Mark and Julie Gretenstein. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Shirley’s memory to a charity of their choice. Graveside service and interment will be held on Sunday, July 23, 2023, at 10 a.m. at Beth Shalom Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc., family owned and operated. schugar.com PJC
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