Shirley Feldbaum

Shirley Feldbaum née Perlstein passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 10, 2025 at the age of 96 surrounded by her many loved ones.

Shirley was born in Philadelphia in 1929, four months before Black Friday and the onset of the Great Depression, and she went on to experience almost a century of major historical events. An academic star in high school, she graduated fifth in her class but did not have the opportunity to pursue higher education at that time. She married and in short order gave birth to Marsha, Janet, and Larry, and she relished her years as a stay-at-home mother.

When Shirley became a single mother in the 1960s, she emerged as a pioneer. She was accepted into one of Philadelphia’s first programs for “displaced homemakers,” New Career Ladders, and then embarked on an incredible professional journey. She earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Temple University with a 3.93 GPA and built a career as a social worker at Jewish Family Services, Philadelphia Corporation for the Aged, and other organizations throughout her career, helping and serving others for many years.

Later, she enjoyed a whirlwind retirement with her husband Eugene Krouse, travelling around the world while building deep and abiding relationships with her grandchildren and then great grandchildren. In her later life, those relationships sustained and nurtured her spirit.

After Eugene’s passing, Shirley found love and companionship with her husband Irving Feldbaum, and the two spent seventeen happy years together.

Throughout, Shirley remained true to her lifelong loves—her Jewish identity, her family, dance, literature—and she was able to celebrate those loves each of her 35,000 days. Shirley lives on in the gifts of time and tenderness she gave to one and all.

Shirley is survived by her children, Marsha Pincus, Janet Rosenzweig (David Marcus) and Larry Rosen, and her stepchildren Shiela (Vince) Ferri, Gary Keith Feldbaum, and Rennie (Michael) Selis, as well as her grandchildren, Michael Pincus (Danielle O’ Steen), Allison Pincus Jacobs (Jason Jacobs), Zachary Smith, Sunny Rosen (Francisco Moreno) and Inde Rosen, and step-grandchildren Adam Ferri, Max Ferri, Sam Ferri, Jacob (Erina) Selis, and Shira (Kevin) Bradford. She is also survived by former son-in-law Nate Pincus as well as 4 great grandchildren and 6 step-great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia (jfcsphilly.org) or Magen David Adom, Israel’s Emergency Services System (savinglivesinisrael.org)

There will be a graveside service at 11:00am on Monday, August 11 at Mt. Sharon Cemetery, 502 E Springfield Rd, Springfield, PA. Services will take place that evening at 6:00pm at the home of Janet Rosenzweig and David Marcus. Shiva will be observed Tuesday evening at the same address the following day.