Rena Sherman

Rena Sherman, age 99, mother of Bruce H. Sherman, Toby Sherman Johnson, and Robert D. Sherman, died on September 6, 2026. She was a resident of Lions Gate Assisted Living Facility in Voorhees, New Jersey. Rena was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Samuel M. Sherman, to whom she was happily married for 62 years at the time of his passing in 2011. She will be greatly missed by her three children, two daughters-in-law, six grandchildren and their spouses, and eight great-grandchildren, all of whom she loved deeply. She was the youngest of seven children born to Eva and Abraham Ruttenberg, who were Ukrainian immigrants.

“Bubbie,” as she was affectionately known to the family, enjoyed a close and warm relationship with all of them. She often lamented not having had even more children. Her husband. Sam, was the love of her life and vice versa. They enjoyed an extremely successful and loving marriage, having met at a synagogue talent show in which she sang and he played Ravel’s “Bolero” on the piano (Rena has said that she knew then that this was the man she would marry!) During their marriage, Sam often accompanied Rena on the piano as she sang at various social events and functions as well as musical theater productions. Rena was an accomplished, talented and impassioned vocalist, having performed in several inspiring and highly attended amateur musical productions over the years, including the female lead in The Desert Song performed at the Academy of Music, and the female lead (Golde) in Fiddler on the Roof, with Sam accompanying her. She was also a talented oil and watercolor artist. Many of her paintings grace our walls.

Rena graduated first in her class academically at Hatch Middle School in Camden, where she grew up. In midlife, as her children pursued college educations and careers, so did Rena! She obtained a B.A. degree in Psychology from Antioch College in 1973 and a Master’s in Social Work from Rutgers University in 1975. She then worked as a family counselor and clinical supervisor for Jewish Family Services, a vocation that she loved, helping many people find greater happiness during her 20-year career. She was additionally active in the Jewish community as a member of Hadassah and as a several-time president of a local chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women. While a resident of Lions Gate, where she happily resided for many years with Sam in independent living, Rena was the director of the Lions Gate Drama Group, as well as the chairperson of the Lions Gate Resident’s Council.

Beyond their childhood, Rena continued to share her loving and generous spirit with her children in their adulthood. She offered a patient, thoughtful ear and advice when requested regarding their lives’ challenges. She was genuinely extremely interested in what was going on in their lives. When new children were born into the family, she would selflessly spend time immediately after their births at their houses, helping the new moms and dads. She was also committed to performing a “mitzvah” each day. This was her way of paying it forward by endeavoring to do a good deed for someone every day, if possible. It was very important to Rena to demonstrate and teach the Jewish culture and traditions to the family. She hosted memorable and educational Passover and Hannukah dinners well into her 80’s, making delicious soups and brisket, to name just some of her specialties.

Rena was the family matriarch and the glue that held the family together. Her brain stayed remarkably sharp even as her body aged. Her family believes that Rena hung on in the final months, despite her declining health, because she did not want to leave them behind. She will be greatly missed by all of them. Her family feels fortunate to have had her with them for so many years.

When considering her upcoming chapter, Rena recently said, “I have checked all of my boxes. I married the love of my life, I had a career I am very proud of, and I raised a big, beautiful family. I feel like my bags are all packed and I’m just waiting for the train to pick me up.” The family has expressed that her profound impact on their lives will remain with them forever.

Funeral services and burial will be limited to members of the immediate family.