Mrs. Doris Arshan

April 5, 1920 - September 2, 2017

Somerset, NJ Doris Arshan, 97, passed away on Saturday, September 2, 2017 at St. Peter's University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ. She was born Doris Zwiebel on April 5, 1920 in New Brunswick, to Sam and Bella Schwartz Zwiebel. Doris was predeceased by her husband, Sam Arshan, owner of Middlesex Foods, Highland Park, whom she married in 1940. Doris and Sam lived in Highland Park for almost 60 years where she participated in a variety of local organizations. She belonged to the St. Peter's Hospital Auxiliary where she performed volunteer work for many years, and was a member of the Middlesex Hospital Aid Association. She was also involved in the Cerebral Palsy Association, the Brandeis University Women's Committee, the Women's Division of the Jewish Community Center, the Polio Foundation, and the Parent-Teacher Association, where she held office. Doris and Sam were members of the Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple for over 60 years, and Doris became President of the Sisterhood. Doris eventually became involved in the Central Jersey Jewish Home in Somerset prior to its opening. She was instrumental in planning the initial dinner dance and fashion show to raise funds for the Home. Both of these events became a tradition which continued raising money for the Home for over 30 years. Her activism with the Jewish Home did not stop here. She became the 2nd President of the Auxiliary, as well as Patient-Advocate for its residents for over 30 years, and was honored by the New Jersey Association of Non-Profit Homes for her dedication to the residents of the Jewish Home. Doris was a member of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Home and the Wilf Campus for 32 years, servings as its secretary for over 25 years of those years. She was also a member of the committee that planned and brought to fruition the Somerset Residence Corporation, later changed to the Lena and David T. Wilentz Senior Residence, and served as its secretary for over 20 years. And, later Doris became a member of the Martin and Edith Stein Assisted Living Residence Board in Somerset, becoming a resident, herself, in October, 2009. Although Doris enjoyed and was deeply involved in her own activities, the accomplishment she was most proud of was raising her three sons with Sam. She always encouraged her sons from the sidelines and celebrated in their accomplishments. Her enthusiastic support at their Little League games was legendary. Everyone knew when she was in attendance and would have a memorable "Doris story" to relate. She was one of a kind and the foundation of her family. Doris is survived by her children: Norman (Judy), of Kendall Park, Stephen (Kathy), of Jackson and Melvyn (Pat), of Port St. Lucie, FL, her grandchildren: Mark (Dun), of Jackson, Jill Gerber (Larry), of Franklin Park, Sherrod (Mandy), of Princeton and Nicole of San Francisco, CA, her great grandsons: Wyatt, Truman and Abe, of Princeton and her sisters: Sylvia Yoskowitz (Lee Naar), of Monroe Township and Gert Klaus of East Brunswick. Funeral services are scheduled for 10 am, Tuesday, September 5th at Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple, 222 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick. Interment will follow in Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge. Memorial contributions may be made to the Oscar and Ella Wilf Campus for Senior Living, Somerset. Arrangements are by the Crabiel Parkwest Funeral Chapel, New Brunswick.