Sara Young Shapiro

Sara Tillie (Young) Shapiro peacefully passed away on September 7, 2024 at the age of 103 years.  Sara inspired us all. She was the epitome of loving kindness who lived her life by the mantra of “family first” but found time to share her gifts with all who were fortunate to know her. She was kind-hearted, empathetic, ethical, positive, resourceful, generous, creative, persistent, devoted, grateful, and lovable, to name just a few of her attributes. Sara was born on April 7, 1921, in Rochester, NY. Her parents were immigrants: her mother, Mary Kacev, was born in Lithuania and her father Joseph Young (nee Yadofsky) in Poland. They had three children. The oldest was Sara, the late Marvin and Lillian. After moving to Brooklyn as a young child, she graduated high school and met Irving Shapiro, whom she married in February 1942. The young couple then travelled to Philadelphia, where Irving was employed as a chemist in the Navy Yard during World War II.   

When the war ended, they initially moved to West Oak Lane, and then to Media, where they literally put down roots to create their extensive flower and vegetable gardens surrounding their home in Riddlewood. They raised two daughters, Paula and Diane, who emulated Sara’s qualities of creativity, optimism and tikkun olam (repair the world). 

Over the decades, Sara was a Girl Scout leader for ten years, sold cosmetics, managed the couple’s upholstery and trimmings business, and worked as an assistant librarian at local libraries and at Penncrest High School. In addition, she volunteered at the Crozer Chester Medical Center greenhouse and was active in League of Woman Voters and American Jewish Congress. 

Sara was a renowned cook, who could creatively combine whatever was in her refrigerator into a gourmet feast. She and Irving frequently hosted dinner parties, including seders for up to thirty people in their home. At her five grandsons' birthday parties, she designed delicious cakes depicting dinosaurs, soccer balls, pets, and even a sheet cake of an image of Haverford College. She never arrived at family gatherings without bringing soup, cookies, or other goodies that she had made. 

Sara and Irving were active members of Temple Sholom in Broomall since 1959. Sadly, Irving died in 1991, just shy of their fiftieth wedding anniversary. When looking back on their time together, Sara said “We had a magical life”. In his memory, and to enrich her spirituality and Jewish education, Sara continued her involvement at the synagogue and celebrated her Bat Mitzvah in 1997 at the age of seventy-six.   

Worldwide travel enhanced their lives, which Sara continued “solo” after Irving passed away. She toured Israel, cruised on the Queen Elizabeth, and rode a zip line through the rainforest canopies of Costa Rica. 

Sara lived at Riddle Village for the last 28 years, where she actively participated by giving tours to prospective residents, winning golf-putting tournaments, conducting water aerobics classes, and exercising throughout her nineties. She arranged and introduced the yearly Hanukkah celebrations and found time to make lasting friendships. 

The last time that Sara was with her entire family was at her 103-year-old birthday party four months ago. Her life was celebrated with song, laughter, and with reminiscing about a life well-lived. 

Sara will be lovingly remembered by everyone who knew her, especially her family: Sister Lillian Blatt and the late Arthur Blatt and their daughters, Mara Blatt and Nina Tamborelli; Daughters and son-in-laws: Paula and Larry Wallach and Diane and Tim Lachman; Grandsons and Great- Grandchildren: Gideon Lachman and Nina Goodman (Micah and Sadie), Jeremy Wallach and the late Esther Clinton (Jonathan), Matthew and Cristina Wallach (Benjamin, Noah and Gabriel), Leah and Ted Wallach (Jonah and Zachary), Diana and Jordan Wallach (Juliet and Lincoln). 

Relatives and friends are invited to memorial services, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, 12:00PM, at Temple Sholom in Broomall, 55 Church La., Broomall, PA 19008. A luncheon will follow services at the synagogue. 

Shiva will be observed on Thursday evening only at the residence of Cristina and Matt Wallach. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Sara’s memory may be made to Temple Sholom in Broomall (https://www.temple-sholom.org/), or to Hadassah (https://www.hadassah.org/). 

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