Thelma Finger (Berger) of Chelsea and formerly of Swampscott and Lynn died on December 25, 2008 at the Chelsea Jewish Nursing Home. She was 85 years old. Thelma was the beloved wife of the late Milton Finger.
Thelma was born in Chelsea and attended the Chelsea Schools and High School. She also attended secretarial school and worked at the Chelsea Naval Hospital for several years. Thelma was the proprietor of RSVP Thelma’s stationary store in Marblehead for over a quarter of a century until her retirement at age 80 in 2002. Thelma was an independent business woman whom started in her home in the 1950’s before opening her store in 1971. Thelma was a founding member and lifelong member of Temple Israel of Swampscott and also a member of their Sisterhood. She was a member of The Boston Aid to the Blind and Hadassah and was one of the first members of the Jewish Community Center of Marblehead. Thelma loved to read and was passionate about the symphony which she sometimes attended with the Swampscott Adult Education group.
Thelma was the devoted mother of Robert and his wife Marie, Mark and his wife Tricia, Laura and her husband Carl Goodman, and Charles and his wife Colette. She was the loving daughter of the late Joseph Berger and Rose Slotnick Berger. Thelma was the beloved grandmother of Michael Finger and his wife Hannah and David Finger; Melissa, Caroline, Phoebe and Joseph Goodman; and Zachery and Gabrielle Finger, and Timothy Benjamin. She was the dear sister of Lawrence Berger.
Services at the Torf Funeral Chapel, 151 Washington Ave. (Cary Sq.) Chelsea on Monday, December 29 at 11:00 AM. Shiva at the home of Laura and Carl Goodman on Monday from 1-8 PM, Tuesday 1-8 PM and Wednesday 1-3 PM and at the home of Robert and Marie Finger also on Tuesday from 1-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Thelma’s memory may be made to the Chelsea Jewish Nursing Home Foundation, Recreation Fund, 17 Lafayette Ave., Chelsea MA 02150 or Hallmark Health Hospice, 178 Savin St., Malden MA 02148.