Shirley G. Kestenman, 89

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Shirley G. Kestenman, of Laurelmead, died peacefully May 19 at home. She was the beloved wife of the late Milton Rigelhaupt and the beloved wife of the late S. Samuel Kestenman.  Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, a daughter of the late Jerome and Lenore (Glazer) Goodman, she was a longtime resident of Pawtucket, Providence and Narragansett, as well as Boca Raton, Florida.

Shirley graduated from the Ohio State University and worked as a social worker at Meeting Street School in Providence. She was a lifetime member of Temple Emanu-El and for 15 years, served as curator of its museum. She was also a life member of Hadassah, National Council of Jewish Women and the Brandeis Committee. 

She was the devoted mother of Nancy Rigelhaupt Smith and her husband, Howard, of Newton, Massachusetts; Gail Rigelhaupt of West Warwick; Jane Rigelhaupt-Shapiro of Houston, Texas; Sally Ralen and her husband, John, of Framingham, Massachusetts; David Kestenman and his wife, Zandra, of Bloomington, Indiana; and Judy Wheeler and her husband, John, of Great Barrington, Massachusetts. She was the dear sister of the late Elise Broming and Martin Goodman and his wife, Elaine. She was the  dear sister-in-law of the late Helene Handelman and husband, William. The grandmother of Ben, Avi, Sarah, Emily, Ethan, Max, Mira, Hannah, Luke, Jesse and Ava.

Contributions in her memory may be made to Jewish Family Service, 959 N. Main St., Providence, RI 02904, Museum Fund c/o Temple Emanu-El, 99 Taft Ave., Providence, RI 02906, or Milton Rigelhaupt scholarship fund at Brown University or charity of your choice.