Shirley Herer Feldman Malamut of Union, New Jersey (lately of Overland Park, Kansas), passed away on Nov. 8 at age 96.
Shirley married H. Martin Feldman in 1945, with whom she had two children, Leah (Linda) Ben-Yehuda (Eliezer) and Gary Feldman (JoAnn). In 1957, she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Kean College and became an elementary school teacher.
In 1966, Leah and her best friend, Judy Malamut, set up their parents, and not long after, Shirley married Lester Malamut, and Shirley's family expanded to include Lester’s children, Judy and David. In the 35 years of their marriage, Shirley and Les welcomed nine grandchildren. In the last 25 years, she has delighted in 13 great-grandchildren. Years after Lester’s death, she married Leonard Judd, with whom she shared a loving home for 10 years.
Shirley had a positive attitude and never wanted to slow down for a moment. She saw the best in others and was convinced that she knew you, even if you had only just met. In the later years of her life, she would quote her mother’s advice, “build on the better, not on the bitter,” and she did that to the best of her ability. She was always impeccably dressed, coiffed and bejeweled, and she wore a perfectly-lipsticked smile as her crown. The center of her life was her Jewish community and her family, and nothing gave her more joy than when her family was with her at shul or in her home for holidays.
Shirley was predeceased by her parents, Samuel and Rebecca Herer; her husbands, H. Martin Feldman, Lester Malamut and Leonard Judd; her sisters Lois Bell, Sylvia Budow and Carol Modell; beloved in-laws Pinney and Ann Feldman; and her dear son Gary Feldman.
Shirley is survived by her children Leah Ben-Yehuda, Judy Yogman and David Malamut; her cherished grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and the many friends and relatives who knew and loved her.
Funeral services were held on Nov. 10 at the Yukon Chapel at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
Online condolences may be left for the family at louismemorialchapel.com.
