NATICK: Edith Alpers, age 92, of Natick, died at home of congestive heart failure on March 1, 2016. In her life she embraced family, multiple careers, and artistic and intellectual pursuits. Born Edith Lillian Shapero in Lynn, Massachusetts, she was raised in Newton in a household that included her late brother, composer Harold Shapero. A graduate of Wellesley College, she married the late Dr. Joseph B. Alpers, her husband of more than fifty years, and moved to Natick. She was elected a Town Meeting member, returned to graduate school at Simmons College to obtain a library degree, and worked as a cataloguer at Brandeis University and Wellesley College until her retirement. She was an expert in Arts and Crafts silver and jewelry, focusing on Boston-based makers. Edith played duplicate bridge until her last month, and had reached one of her life goals by becoming a life master at the age of eighty-nine. She was a woman of wit, good taste, and high standards. She will be dearly missed by many who knew her.
She is survived by her children, Terry Seligmann and Charles Alpers (and wife Patricia Spring); her grandchildren, Jenny Adelman, Robert Adelman, Benjamin Alpers, and William Alpers; and several loving nieces, nephews, and cousins. A memorial service will be held at John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common, on Saturday, March 26 at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to The Southern Poverty Law Center (splcenter.org.) and Doctors Without Borders (doctorswithoutborders.org) are welcomed. For the guestbook and directions please visit www.everettfuneral.com.