Lebanon, N.H. — Ann Beatrice Hirsch died unexpectedly Tuesday July 5, 2016 at Alice Peck Day Hospital. She was a longtime resident of Harvest Hill in Lebanon. Ann was born in Elizabeth, N.J. on Sept. 21, 1924, to Ethel and Louis Lerner. After attending Douglas College and working as a civilian employee for the United States Army during World War II, Ann married Ben Hirsch and moved with him to Lebanon. In 1947, with the help of Ben’s extended family, they founded Hirsch’s Department Store, Inc. in downtown Lebanon.

Ann was active in community life for decades. She was a member of the Upper Valley Jewish Community, and Hadassah, and a founder of the Lebanon Business & Professional Women’s Club. For many years, Ann volunteered at the Lebanon Senior Citizens Center.

Family was most important to Ann. No matter what happened, she believed, everything would fall into place with a strong family. She loved to share Chinese food with her family, or cook large meals for children and grandchildren at her house. She never forgot to shop for sweet snacks for them, and loved to serve huge scoops of ice cream for dessert. Ann loved socializing with friends and establishing meaningful relationships with customers at Hirsch’s. She played Mah Jong with friends for decades, and regretted that advancing age forced her to retire from the weekly games.

In addition to her beloved husband Ben, Ann was predeceased in death by her parents, her sister Gert Silverstein and brothers Jules Lerner and Leo Lerner.

Survivors include sister Yetta and Tony Preston of Fla., daughter Devasha Blumenthal of Jerusalem, son and daughter-in-law Ed and Laura Harris-Hirsch of Lebanon, and grandchildren Aaron Blumenthal and his wife Michelle Ender, Sarah Feld, Matthew and his wife Rachel Blumenthal, Joshua Blumenthal, Raphael Hirsch, Shaina Hirsch, and 5 great-grandchildren. Ann’s friends Paula Nulty, Barbara Brown, Isabelle Boisvert, Rita Ezersky and the late Anita Alafat were dear to her.

In keeping with Jewish tradition, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Grafton County Senior Citizens Council, 10 Campbell Street, PO Box 433, Lebanon NH are welcomed.

Funeral services will be held at the Stringer Funeral Home, 146 Broad Street in Claremont on Friday afternoon, July 8, at 2 p.m. Burial will follow in Meyer David Cemetery.