Paula Alexander
“May her memory be a blessing.”
Paula Alexander died peacefully Tuesday, January 12.
The second of three daughters of Maurice and Ida Herman, Paula was born on April 9, 1932, in Paterson, NJ. A precocious student and pianist, Paula graduated from the New Jersey College For Women at the age of 20 in 1952. That same year, Paula wed Daniel Alexander of Trenton, NJ. They had met at the Rutgers University Hillel Center — Daniel was sweeping the floors while Paula was eating a bowl of borscht. They were married for 56 years until Daniel’s death in 2009. (“He was the love of my life,” she often said.)
Paula was active in Trenton’s Jewish life, and joined Daniel in lifelong support of American and Israeli Jewry. But her most important commitment was to her growing family. Paula saw it as her responsibility and joy to support Daniel and guide her children.
Formerly a resident of Trenton, NJ and Yardley, PA, she spent her final years in Ewing, NJ.
Along with her husband, Daniel, Paula is predeceased by her sister, Audrey Dresner. Paula is survived by her three sons and daughters-in-law, David and Betty Alexander of Columbus, OH, Joseph and Elana Alexander of Efrat, Israel, and Joshua and Erica Alexander of Durham, NC, as well as her devoted sister, Carol Hirsch of Morrisville, PA., and her sister-in-law, Ruth Sugerman of Pennington, NJ. Paula was also a loving Savta to seven grandchildren: Rebecca and Zach, Jessica and Ben, and Hanna, Yonatan, and Rachel.
Funeral services will be private. Contributions may be made in Paula’s memory to Congregation Beth El, 375 Stony Hill Road, Yardley, PA 19067 or Abrams Hebrew Academy, 31 W. College Ave., Yardley, PA 19067.
Our deepest condolences to the entire Alexander family on the loss of Paula. I remember each year being welcomed so warmly into Paula and Daniel’s home as a child each Sukkot and the wonderful celebration they would invite their friends and family to. Such a wonderful couple and both shining examples of the very best humanity has to offer. Carolyn Moses Johnston
To Paula’s sons:
Susy Schnur here. We remember you all living a few streets away in Trenton, and then in Yardley. I think of your mom whenever I garden — since she and your dad gave us garden implements for our wedding gift 44 years ago.
We especially loved this gift because your parents were the only ones who didn’t laugh at our “wish list” of gifts and actually gave us something that has endured for 50 years.
Hashem dayan ha-emet. Make you make sense of this loss, and may Mom’s best qualities continue on in her descendants.
Much love.