Serena Esther Vile Grinpas Obituary (2006) - Wilmington, North Carolina

Serena Esther Grinpas, 82, of Wilmington, NC, formerly of Kansas City, passed away Sunday, August 27, 2006. Funeral services will be 11:00am Thursday August 31 at The Louis Memorial Chapel, 6830 Troost Ave. Burial at Mt. Carmel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a charitable donation be made to the Hy and Bella Vile Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation, 5801 W. 115th St., Suite #104, Overland Park, KS 66211, the Emilie Rosebud Diabetes Research Foundation, 605 W. 47th St, Suite #200, K.C., MO 64112 or a charity of one’s choice. Serena, or Shana as some of her friends called her, was a vibrant beautiful woman. The great love of her life was her family. She devoted her time and energy to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The intense love she had for her sisters and brother and their spouses was unparalleled. Her many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and their children were all precious in her eyes. She celebrated so many holidays and went on countless memorable trips with all of her family. She derived enormous satisfaction in life in making a difference in the life of a child. When she moved to Wilmington at 80 years old, she volunteered as a reading tutor at a local elementary school delighting in seeing children blossom from her attention. She loved beauty and cultivated it wherever she could, in her home, in her actions and most dearly, with her family. Shana was a life member of Hadassah, member of the sewing club and a former member of Congregation Beth Shalom and Oakwood Country Club. She had many volunteer activities throughout her life including Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City and recently in Wilmington at Davis Health Care Center and Topsail Elementary Club. During her lifetime she lived in Kansas City, MO; La Costa, CA; Billings, MT and Wilmington, NC. Shana was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph E. Grinpas, a daughter, Michelle Levin and her parents, Hy and Bella Vile. She is survived by her daughter: Carroll Metzger and John Foley of Wilmington, NC; siblings: Joel and Sue Vile of Kansas City, MO; Rae Block of Kansas City, MO and Leslie and Howard Schultz of Dallas, TX; grandchildren: Jana and Henry Sack of Dallas, TX; Jill and Dr. James Reingold of Buffalo, NY; Eli and Dr. Rebecca MurrayMetzger of San Francisco, CA; Laurel Metzger of St. Louis, MO; great-grandchildren: Melody Mason, Michelle Reingold, Noah MurrayMetzger and Sidney Murray Metzger.