Thelma ((Weisinger)) Greene

Thelma (Weisinger) Greene of Avon, CT, died peacefully on Tuesday, January 1, 2019 after a long illness. She was the beloved wife of the late Joseph A. Greene. Born in Newark, NJ, she was the daughter of the late Nathan and Anna (Hoffman) Weisinger.

Thelma spent her childhood years in Newark, graduating from Weequahic High School and the Leah Kridle Seely School of Music. Her piano playing talents earned her a place as a pianist in an all-male quintet at the age of 16, performing at a summer resort in Kerhonkson, NY. When the sisterhood at Congregation Agudath Israel Synagogue in Caldwell, NJ, needed an accompanist at their presentations, she was on-call.

In 1947, Thelma married her childhood friend and “the boy next door”, Joseph A. Greene, and by 1952 bought their first home in West Caldwell, NJ. The couple was married for 61 years until Joseph’s death in 2008.

In 1959, she moved to Connecticut following Joseph’s acquisition of a Ford dealeraship in Torrington, and lived in Harwinton for four years before estblishing residence in West Hartford in 1963. After Joseph retired and sold the dealershiop in 1986, the couple moved to Avon, where Thelma made her home until moving to McLean Health Care in Simsbury in July 2018.

An avid golfer and bridge player, Thelma continued to pursue these activities well into her retirement years. She was a member of the Hartford Bridge Club. Mah Jong was another one of her favorite activities.

Thelma is survived by her children, Alan S. Greene of Carizzozo, NM, Marilyn G. Rigby and her husband, James, of West Hartford, and Kenneth Greene and his wife, Deborah, of Simsbury; 10 grandchildren including Annie Herring of Ruidoso, NM, John Greene of Tularosa, NM, Jacob Greene of Midland, TX, Sam Greene of Odessa, TX, Miley (Greene) Zolman of Tijeras, NM, Jesse Greene, currently living in Kenya, Jeffrey Rigby of Brooklyn, NY, Shana Westlake of Rockville, MD, and Julie Rigby of New London; and 20 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Joseph, and brothers, Lloyd Weisinger and Donald Weisinger.

A private graveside service will be held Sunday, January 6, 2019 at 1 p.m. at Beth El Temple Cemetery, 51 Jackson St., Avon, CT with Rabbi James Rosen presiding,

The family sends its grateful appreciation to the staff of the Evergreen unit at McLean, and to Opal Garvey, Thelma’s caretaker while she was still living at home in Avon, The kindness, caring and love you shared with Thelma over the past few years brightened her life in many ways.

Thelma specificially stated that she did not want her age revealed in her obituary, but let it be said she lived many years beyond her allotment of three score and ten. They were fulfilling years filled with much joy and love. The family is thankful for her presence in our lives over many decades.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Jewish Family Services, 333 Bloomfield Ave, West Hartford, CT 06117, or McLean, 75 Great Pond Road, Simsbury, CT 06070. For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Thelma please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm