Judith Segal

Judith Segal, née, Bernstein was born on August 20, 1931, and passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 19, 2013, at Houston Hospice after a short illness. Judy was lucky to have been loved deeply, most importantly by her husband Paul Segal. They met on Fire Island in the summer of 1962 and were married in December of the same year. They were inseparable for 53 years of marriage and Judy was a committed caretaker to Paul in his final years as he battled Alzheimer’s. A New Yorker through and through, Judy was born in Brooklyn to Rose Agen Bernstein, a single mother and Russian immigrant from Odessa, Ukraine. She and Paul took advantage of everything New York had to offer. They held season tickets for the New York Philharmonic and the New York City Ballet, and they cherished attending Broadway shows. Even after moving to the suburbs, they continued to enjoy the culture and shopping Manhattan offered. Judy had a particular affinity for Bloomingdales. While she and Paul moved to Houston to be closer to family in their later years, Judy remained a staunch New Yorker with subscriptions to both the New York Times and The New Yorker. Growing up in Brooklyn with a hardworking mother, Judy learned self-reliance early. She navigated the New York subway system at a young age to get to school on her own and was proud of her career as a clothing buyer. She was fiercely independent in taking care of Paul throughout his illness and herself until shortly before her passing. Judy glowed with pride for her children and grandchildren. Her oldest daughter Amy was born in 1965, followed by Mara in 1966. She was a devoted mother, instilling a love for the arts in them through piano and dance lessons. Later, Judy doted on her three grandchildren, who lovingly referred to her as “Juju”. She enthusiastically sent them hand torn articles from the New York Times and food ladened care packages for various Jewish holidays. She would boast to her friends about their accomplishments, including the colleges they got into and proceeded to graduate from. Judy enjoyed a rich social life with friends who brought warmth and camaraderie into her life. She and Paul had a close-knit circle, formed by Paul's childhood friends and their wives who became Judy's closest friends. She looked forward to their monthly dinner group where they would select a cuisine to inspire their homemade dishes and “get fancy” for the evening. Additionally, when the family moved to Oradell for the girls to attend elementary school, she quickly bonded with other women at the synagogue. Her friends were her extended family. Judy was resilient despite facing tough losses throughout her life. She endured the loss of her oldest daughter, Amy Segal, to cancer and was preceded in death by many close friends. She is survived by her daughter, Mara Segal, three beloved grandchildren – Alanna, Zoe, and Ethan – and her nieces and nephews. Judy’s funeral service will be held at Emanu El Memorial Park on Sunday, October 22 at 2:00 PM and a shiva service will be held at 5:30 PM at 4715 Banning Dr.

Judith Segal

August 20, 1931 - October 19, 2023