Arlene Shugar

Arlene was born in Brooklyn, New York to Simon and Esther Albala on November 16, 1939. She was raised there along with her six siblings and graduated from Lafayette High School. She met her husband, Stanley, on a blind date and they were married for 53 years until his passing in 2015.

Arlene and Stanley resided in Howell Township for 24 years where they raised their three children, Heidi, Randi and Seth. She was a devoted homemaker caring for her children and her husband. She had many jobs throughout her life, but the two that held a special place in her heart were working at Flori Roberts and caring for people as a home healthcare provider.

They moved to Leisure Village West in Manchester Township in 1996 where they formed many friendships and created wonderful memories, especially with their grandchildren. Arlene moved into Atria Cranford, an assisted living facility, in 2025 where she enjoyed making new friends.

She was predeceased by her husband Stanley Shugar, her daughter Heidi Schmidt, her sisters Rebecca Hellman, Violet Hazan and Lillian Russo and her brothers Albert Albala, Bernard Albala and Irving Albala.

Surviving are her daughter Randi Zidel and her husband Andy, her son Seth Shugar and his wife Sharon, her son-in-law, Ray Schmidt and his wife Tina, her grandchildren Kevin Schmidt and his wife Diana, Eli Zidel, Lindsey Shugar, Juliana Shugar, Abbey Zidel, Laura Schmidt, her great-grandchildren Micah and Amelia Schmidt and many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive guests on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 from 10:15am -10:45am at Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels, 44 Wilson Ave, Manalapan, NJ. The funeral service will begin at 11am. The burial will follow at Floral Park Cemetery, 104 Deans Rhode Hall Rd, South Brunswick, NJ.

Shiva will be observed at the home of Randi & Andy Zidel at 52 Bell Drive, Westfield, NJ on:

• Tuesday, January 13th following the burial until 8pm

• Wednesday, January 14th from 12pm – 3pm and from 6pm – 9pm

Donations in Arlene’s memory may be made to:

Breakthrough T1D (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation)

https://www.breakthrought1d.org/newjersey/