Thirell was born on October 2, 1931 to Thirell and Richard A. Lipsey in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. After graduating from the University of Washington, Thirell traveled to London, England to teach grade school, stopping on the way in Boston where she met Harvey Weiss. Upon her return from England several years later, she and Harvey married. They lived in Washington, DC and Manhattan before settling in Haworth, NJ. They had three daughters, Deborah, Adrienne, and Susan (who died as an infant).
Thirell created a beautiful home, filled with love, antiques, plants, and delicious aromas from her superb cooking. A talented pianist, she was a beloved piano teacher, introducing a generation of children to the joys of music. She was an active member of the Haworth Women’s Club and the Haworth Tennis team and was a lifelong bridge player. She and Harvey enjoyed decades of chamber music concerts, opera, ballet performances and museums together. When they moved back to the Upper West Side in 2017, she derived enormous pleasure being able to walk from their apartment to performances at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.
Thirell is survived by her beloved husband Harvey Weiss, daughters Deborah Weiss of Austin, TX and Adrienne Frechter of Breckenridge, CO, sons-in-law Edward Markovitz and Allen Frechter, grandchildren Daniel Frechter, Serena Frechter, Susannah Frechter, Kathryn Markovitz, and Nora Markovitz, her brother Richard G. Lipsey of Vancouver, Canada and many nieces and nephews.
Service will be held at Frank E. Campbell, 1076 Madison Ave, New York on Friday, June 2 at 11 am. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The American Cancer Society.
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