Shirley Jaffe Coploff – Obituary
Shirley Jaffe Coploff passed away Thursday, January 14, 2020, at the Village at Penn State Atrium with family by her side.
Born July 5, 1926, in Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania to the late Reuben and Freida (Azen) Jaffe, Shirley was raised in Phillipsburg and graduated from Phillipsburg High School in 1944. As a child, she enjoyed spending time at the family’s cabin at Black Moshannon. She earned a degree in psychology, summa cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania in 1948 and was inducted as a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
While at Penn, Shirley met and married the love of her life E. Max Coploff, who preceded her in death on December 15, 2013.
Shirley and Max wed on July 3, 1947 and enjoyed more than 66 years of marriage. After completing her degree, Shirley moved to Lock Haven, where she and Max owned and managed their family’s ladies’ clothing store, Luria’s, until their retirement in 1989. They raised their sons in Lock Haven and Woolrich. In 2000, they moved to State College so that they could enjoy the arts as much as possible in their retirement, settling at the Village in 2012.
Shirley enjoyed reading, playing bridge, taking walks, attending concerts, plays, and sporting events at Penn State, and spending time with her family and friends. She was a gourmet cook and a consummate hostess who always enjoyed entertaining.
Shirley and Max loved to travel and visited many states and countries. In their retirement they also enjoyed attending elder hostels throughout the United States.
Shirley is survived by her three sons Steven Coploff of Irvington, New York, Larry (Mary) Coploff of Lock Haven, and Jeffrey Coploff of Washington Depot, Connecticut. She is also survived by five grandchildren Dustin (Renata) Coploff of Pompano Beach, Florida, Reid (Arielle Pacer) Coploff of Arlington, Virginia, Nicholas Coploff of Irvington, New York, Ava Coploff of New York City, and Jack Coploff, of Aurora, Colorado, and two great grandchildren Hadley and Finn Coploff of Arlington, Virginia. She is also survived by brother William Jaffe and sister Elaine Altshuler, nieces Marilynne (Alford) Bleeker and Robin (Chris) Goebel, and nephew Matthew (Kelly Perez) Jaffe and several great nieces and nephews.
Besides her husband and parents, Shirley was preceded in death by her niece Anne Altshuler and sister-in-law Honora Jaffe.
Funeral services will be private and at the convenience of the family.
Memorial contributions may be made in Shirley’s memory to the Annie Halenbake Ross Library.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Donald G. Walker Funeral Home, Inc., 231 High St., Flemington, PA 17745.
Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.donaldwalkerfuneralhome.com
