Shirley Blum

Funeral Date and Time:

Monday, December 09, 2024 at 10:30 am

Funeral Service Information:

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Sue (Shirley) Blum. She left us peacefully on the morning of November 19, 2024, after 97 years of a beautifully lived life. Full of love, laughter, and joy, she touched the lives of all who knew her. A wonderful mother, she was always there when we needed her, offering support, wisdom, and cherished memories in abundance. Sue graduated from Von Steuben Metropolitan High School, and subsequently from secretarial school, in Chicago. Sue was an executive secretary for many years at Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company in Chicago, then retired from Washington National Insurance Company located in Evanston, Illinois. Before retiring, Sue was a member of Mizrahi women, and also learned to transcribe books into braille for the blind. After retirement, Sue worked for the Kohl Children’s Museum of Greater Chicago, as well as the Holocaust Museum and the The Shelter for Abused Women & Children, in Naples FL. Sue also volunteered as docent at The Baker Museum and ushered at The Philharmonic Center for the Arts in Naples. Sue loved music, art, needlepoint, dogs, and travel. She was a devoted member of the Beth Tikvah Conservative Synagogue in Naples, Florida. A friend to many, she was an active member of the communities in which she lived—Village Walk, Arbor Trace, and Arbor Glen in Naples—leaving behind a legacy of kindness and strength. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 49 years, Sam Blum; her parents Bessie and Nathan; and her brothers Hank and David Azaren. Sue leaves behind her brother Irving; sons Dennis (Lynn) and Steven (Kathleen); grandsons Ben (Kendra), Brian and Billy; granddaughter Jennifer (Nick); and great grandsons Ethan and Max—along with countless friends—all of whom felt her warmth and generosity. We are forever grateful to the wonderful ladies who helped care for Sue during her last years, making every day special for her. For those wishing to commemorate her incredible journey and celebrate the love she spread, Sue requested that contributions be sent in her memory to the organizations she actively supported:
1. The Holocaust Museum & Education Center, Naples, Florida
2. Neighborhood Health Clinic, Naples, Florida
3. Baker Art Museum, Naples, Florida

Funeral Provider:

Lakeshore Jewish Funerals

Clergy:

Rabbi Rachel Kaplan Marks

Interment:

Section E