Blanche L. Segal
1926 – 2025
Blanche L. Segal, age 99, a resident of Pennington, N.J., died on September 14, 2025 at Serenity Hospice at RWJ after a fall. Blanche wanted to live to be age 100 like her husband who celebrated his 100th birthday this year, and almost succeeded. Blanche was born in 1926 and raised in Trenton, N.J. and attended Trenton Central High School and Rider College (now Rider University.) Blanche was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend. Blanche enjoyed all types of music (particularly Dixie-land jazz), Broadway shows, walking on Brewster Court, a lively game of mah jongg, home decorating and was a personal shopper. She would often stay up until 3 am reading newspapers, enjoying chocolate candy and talking on the phone to her girlfriends. She loved her friends and family and was always happy when she received visitors.
During Blanche’s life, she was active in many charitable, civic and social organizations. Mayor Arthur Holland referred to Blanche as a “full time committed professional volunteer” for many civic and charitable organizations. Blanche was: President of Pioneer Women and Life Member Na’Amat USA, President of Trenton Chapter Hadassah and Life Member, Recording Secretary of Adath Israel Congregation Board, Board of Trustees Adath Israel Congregation, Recording Secretary of Adath Israel Sisterhood, Corresponding Secretary of Glen Afton Civic Association, Corresponding Secretary and Parliamentarian of Glen Afton Women’s Club, Chair of Helping Hands of Glen Afton Civic Association, and was Elected to Mercer County Democratic Committee for over 25 years. She volunteered for Heart Fund, Hemophilia, American Cancer Society, March of Dimes and Mercer Hospital (now Capital Health Hospital, Hopewell NJ). Blanche received the “Heart of Gold Award” by Mission Kindness International, Inc. Blanche also was on the Board of Directors of Mill Hill Family, Docent at State of NJ Museum and ushered at Patriots Theatre of War Memorial Building. In her later years, she began the Helping Hands Committee at Four Seasons in Hopewell Township, and started weekly mah jongg games at Four Seasons.
Blanche was the daughter of Israel and Beatrice Levine of Trenton, N.J. and Florida. Blanche is survived by her husband, Albert (Boomey) Segal whom she was married to for 77 years. Her last spoken words on September 11th were “I love Boomey so much, all my life.” She is also survived by her daughter, Sharon Segal of Washington, DC and Pennington; and a son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Rabbi Arthur and Ellen Segal of Hilton Head, SC. Blanche is also survived by her beloved nieces and nephews, Lauren W. Lavine, Ellen Coren, Wendy and Patrick Cacacie, Stuart and Dian Segal, Dawn Levine, Ann Levine, Mark Segal and Steven Rubin. Blanche was the sister of the late Bernard and Doris Levine of Ewing, NJ, sister of the late Zelda and Louis Coren of Florida, sister-in-law of the late Evelyn and Leon Weinstein of Trenton, NJ, sister-in-law of the late George and Matilda Rubin of Detroit, and sister-in-law of the late Martin and Betty Segal of Detroit, aunt of the late Cheryl Weinstein of Newtown, PA and the late Dr. Alan Levine of Langhorne, PA.
Blanche’s family wishes to thank Anna, Lana and Janice who helped take care of her in recent years, and the medical teams at Capital Health Trauma and Serenity Hospice. The care of her many physicians including Dr. Kathy Canales helped to sustain her life.
Her family would also like to thank the many friends and neighbors. In particular, her beloved neighbors in Four Seasons and the Brewster Court community have been so helpful and kind to the family.
Private funeral services and burial will be held at Ewing Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Capital Health Medical Center, Hopewell NJ or Adath Israel Congregation.
Funeral arrangements are by Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel. OrlandsMemorialChapel.com/Blanche-Segal
I hope you find peace knowing that Blanche was an inspiration and a gift to many people. God bless Boomy and Sharon and her family and friends
Blanche was wonderful person and it was a pleasure being her aide, I wish Al and Sharon God blessings
“Death never takes a holiday”, a dear friend to my late parents, and I guess I’ll be going to another funeral.
May Blanche rest in peace.🪦
Amen!🙏’”.
Just posted to my Facebook page with the obituary, my late mother loved her with mah-jongg in my home in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, she was just one of the girls. ❤️
Blanche was a wonderful person and it was a pleasure being her aide I wish God blessings on Al and Sharon
Come on people speak up, Blanche touched way too many people for a short “comment thread”, I’ve been trying to get over to Pennington for a year, this is what happens when someone is too busy in retirement driving, I pass there practically every day, I was at the Pennington ShopRite just yesterday, I will be getting over to see “Boomy” soon.
I may have been my parent’s first born son, but they loved me too.
We moved from Philadelphia to Lawrence Twp. in 1965, August, I was 3, my brother David was 1. ❤️
Elaine and Ivan Barash were my parents.
I knew Blanche and Boomey for many years. Blanche was always beautiful and smiling. I
remember that she was often asked to “narrate” ladies’ fashion shows, and she was so good at it.
Our deepest condolences to Boomey and Sharon and family. We have such wonderful memories of Blanche. She was a special friend to Vivian and Sy, and the whole Cohen family thought the world of her. We all have such fond memories of her and will remember her with a smile. May her memory be for a blessing.
We each walk different paths in life. We are all born, and one day we must all leave. I am deeply grateful to God and to destiny that my path crossed with Blanche Segal. A truly wonderful, intelligent, and kind person. She was not only my patient but also a cherished conversationalist and a dear friend. On this sad day, our family grieves deeply and keeps her family close in our thoughts and prayers.
EULOGY FOR BLANCHE LEVINE SEGAL, BEILAH BAT ISRAEL V BLUMA HALEVI, 1926-2025, BY HER SON, RABBI DR ARTHUR SEGAL,
We gather together today to honor and celebrate the extraordinary life of Blanche Levine Segal—a woman whose 99 years were filled with love, family, community, and devotion to Jewish values. Blanche’s presence was a blessing to all who knew her, and her memory will continue to inspire us for generations. Arthur said: ”She was my mother, my mommy, my mom. She gave me life and nurtured it. I loved her the best I could during different phases of my life. How can one say a sufficient ‘thank you’ to one’s mother? No matter how much we try, we fall short.”
Blanche was born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey, where her warmth and charm shone early. She graduated from Trenton Central High School, and then from Rider College, where she was chosen as Homecoming Queen. Even then, people were drawn to her grace, kindness, and natural leadership.
When Arthur and Sharon were kids he relates how mom told them she won a loaf of bread by singing Shirley Temple’s “On the Good Ship Lollipop,” during a contest during the depression. For 73 years a tear would come to his eyes whenever there was a Shirley Temple movie on TV.
In 1948, Blanche married her high school sweetheart, Albert aka Boomey Segal. Their love was remarkable for its patience, loyalty, and depth. She waited faithfully while he served two years in Europe as an officer during World War II, and again as he completed four years at the University of Pennsylvania. Their marriage was a true partnership, rooted in respect, joy, and devotion to family and Jewish life.
Blanche poured her heart into raising her two children. Her daughter Sharon built an accomplished career, active in historic preservation, science research funding, and serving in Vice President Al Gore’s Sustainable Development Program. Blanche was so proud of Sharon’s commitment to building a better future. She was also proud of her son, Arthur, who became a successful oral medicine specialist, and after retiring, devoted himself to Torah and Talmud study and teaching. Today, he is a world-renowned rabbi, with multiple published books—including three bestsellers—and hundreds of Talmudic essays. Every one of those books is dedicated to Blanche, Boomey, and their parents and siblings, and Sharon, a lasting tribute to the family that shaped him.
Blanche found tremendous joy in her family life. She especially cherished her loving relationship with her daughter-in-law, Ellen, with whom she spoke almost daily. She was a kind and attentive aunt to her many nieces and nephews, a devoted sister and sister-in-law, and a caring daughter and daughter-in-law. She was predeceased by her beloved siblings and siblings-in-law—Zelda, Louis, Doris, Bernie, Evelyn, Mish, Betty, Moish, Tibbie, and George—and by her niece and nephew, Cheryl and Alan. Her family circle was large, and Blanche carried each of them in her heart with loyalty and love.
Beyond her family, Blanche gave her time and energy to her community. She was an officer in ORT, Hadassah, and Young Judaea; she strengthened her neighborhood through the Glen Afton Civic Association; she championed the arts and worked on behalf of civil rights. She was especially devoted to Jewish communal life, taking a leadership role in the Sisterhood of Adath Israel Congregation in Trenton. Blanche’s work in these organizations reflected her values: faith, justice, and the belief that one person can help repair the world.
Blanche’s life embodied the words of Eshet Chayil—“A Woman of Valor”: She is clothed in strength and dignity… she opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
Her kindness, her dignity, and her wisdom were gifts she shared abundantly—with family, with friends, and with the wider world. She lived nearly a century, yet her life was not measured only in years, but in the love she gave and the lives she touched.
Today, as we say goodbye, we also say thank you—for the gift of Blanche’s life. We will remember her strength, her devotion, her compassion, and her unwavering love for family. May we honor her memory by continuing her work: loving each other deeply, serving our communities, and living as Jews committed to tikkun olam.
Zichrona livracha—may her memory always be a blessing. And let us say ‘’Aymein.’’
We have had the pleasure of knowing and loving Blanche since we moved into our community. Blanche inspired us to live life to the fullest as she and Al have always done. Our conversations with Blanche were always light and full of laughter. She was the community fashion icon and we couldn’t wait to see what she would wear to our next function; she matched from head to toe.
Her daughter Sharon took wonderful care of Blanche and Al and this allowed them to remain in their home. Her devotion to them is an inspiration to all of us. Sharon you are a blessing.
Our sincere sympathy to Al, Sharon and family.
Your neighbors
Sue Bolan
Virginia and John Clawson
Patty Durastanti
Today is the day we paid tribute to our friend Blanche. As she passed through the neighborhood we all said our fond goodbyes.
Blanche was a wonderful neighbor, she and Al were such an integral part of our lives and Al will continue to hold forth from his front porch.
We are all so grateful to Sharon who gave up her life in DC to take care of her parents . It is well known that they would have had difficulty making it through the pandemic and other times of medical difficulties without her. Blanche often said, “Sharon takes such good care of us.”
We ( members of the Four Seasons community) have been enriched by their association through committees, games and recreational festivities and so much more.
So long Blanche, we love you and will always remember you.
We learned so much about Blanche from the long and loving obituary. We knew her only for a short time, since we moved to Brewster Court just a year ago. We were unaware of her years of contributions to the Four Seasons and to other organizations and communities. A long and full life.
The loss of a parent is always a profound event. So many years suddenly ended! We’re sure all of Blanche’s loved ones have a wealth of memories. But leading the list is her daughter Sharon. No one could have been a more devoted daughter. Sharon’s devotion to her dad and to Blanche’s memory continues, and Blanche’s achievements will live on in her.