Shirley

Friedlander

Cedar Grove chapel: Shirley Cohen Friedlander, 101,passed away peacefully in her sleep May 18, 2025 after living her
best life and bringing joy to every person who had the honor of being in her presence.
Known as "Golfin Shirl", she was preceded in death by her husband of more that 50 years,
Sol (Sonny) Friedlander, her son Marc, her brother Edward S. Cohen and her sister-in-law
Phyllis Cohen. She leaves her daughter and son-in law Patti and Robert Goodman,
daughter-in-law Karen Friedlander, her grandchildren Stephanie Goodman, Jason and his
wife Nicole Friedlander, Staci and her husband Andrew Pelman, her great grandchildren
Mia Friedlander, Kylee Pelman, Morgan Pelman and Ian Friedlander to carry on her legacy
of family gatherings complete with family favorite recipes especially her noodle pudding,
Grandma's cookies, and spiked egg-nog.
Shirley was born in Perth Amboy, NJ and grew up in Elizabeth, NJ graduating from Battin
High School in 1941. She grew up surrounded by a loving, close knit family which included
her mother Pauline Cohen, her brother, her grandmother Lena as well as her extended
family of countless aunts, uncles and cousins. Her early childhood adventures, especially
her time spent at Bradley Beach significantly influenced how she lived her life – open, full of
laughter, glass always ¾ full and with a huge picture window full of possibilities.  She loved
to entertain, cook, play golf and spend time with family and friends and give back to the
community. She met the love of her life, Sonny while in high
school and they married when she was just 18 yrs old. She continued to model for
Bambergers under a wartime pseudonym Shirley Conners. After the war, she focused on growing a family, and
staying connected to friends and family in Colonia, N.J. where she and Sonny were always
the fashion couple dancing the nights away, especially at Twin Brooks Country Club where
they were members. Shirley was a gifted public speaker and impeccable fund raiser with
incredible organizational skills. She used those gifts to benefit her favorite charity Deborah
Heart & Lung Hospital in Browns Mills, NJ. where she started going door to door to fill cans
with coins and ultimately started local volunteer chapters responsible for raising
thousands of dollars. Over time, she joined Deborah's board of directors and eventually
became its Vice Chair.  After her husband passed, she was hired as the Assistant Director of Fundraising at the Deborah Hospital Foundation.
Shirley moved to Monroe Village at age 92. She reunited with many friends and was embraced by the loving staff there in her final years.
The funeral was held on May 21st.  Friends are welcome to visit the Goodman home for shiva from 6:30 - 8:30 on Wednesday and from 2 - 4 and 6:30 - 8:30 on Thursday. Services will be held each evening at 7 pm.
Address is 6 Oak Tree Court, Westampton, NJ 08060.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in honor of Shirley to Deborah Hospital
Foundation, 212 Trenton Rd., Browns Mills, NJ 08015
https://www.deborahfoundation.org/donate/