Bessie Samuels

ANDOVER — Bessie Samuels, 104, of Andover, died Sunday, May 11, 2008.

She was born in the Ukraine and raised in Hartford, Conn. The first woman to attend the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, founded Samuels Pharmacy in Winthrop, with her late husband and fellow pharmacist Barnett Samuels.

President of the Sisterhood and founded the religious school at the Temple in Winthrop. She moved to Brookline and volunteered extensively at Temple Ohabei Shalom.

She received high honors from the American Red Cross for 25 years of volunteerism.

For the past 10 years she had lived in Andover, first with her grandson, Dr. David Samuels and his family, and most recently at Academy Manor Nursing Home.

Bessie leaves two sons, Burton Samuels of Newton and Martin Samuels of Boston; grandchildren, Howard of Newton, David of Andover, Alan of Los Angeles, Bruce of Newton and Susan Belisle of Sanford, Maine; and eight great-grandchildren.

ARRANGEMENTS: Burial will be at Sharon Memorial Park in Sharon May 13 at 1:45 p.m. Memorial gathering at 7 Ridge Hill Way, Andover, from 5 to 9, with Minyan service 7 p.m. Donations can be made to Temple Emanuel Minyan Fund, 7 Haggets Pond Road, Andover, MA 01810, or American Red Cross of MA Bay, attn: Frances Moseley, 139 Main St., Cambridge, MA 02142.