Leah Ugelow

Death date: May 27, 2020

Ugelow,Leah 98 of Phoenix Arizona formerly of Delray Beach Florida passed away May 27, 2020.Beloved wife of the late Seymour, loving mother of Albert ( Paula ) Ugelow, Seth ( Randi ) Ugelow and Robin Carbone, cherished grandmother Read Obituary

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Melissa Ugelow

280w ago

A Story about Grandma
By Melissa Ugelow
My last visit with grandma was December 2018 into January 2019. She was living in her first assisted living home in Arizona, and this was the worst that I had seen her with her memory. After seeing her daily though, by the end of my visit she began to remember that there would be a younger woman who would show up in the afternoon, and that younger woman loved her a lot and she loved that younger woman too. One day, after trying to feed Ian and me all her candy that my parents bought for her earlier that week, we were sitting in her room talking about grandma’s legacy. I told grandma she had 3 children, 6 grandchildren, and 3, soon to be 4, great grandchildren, and even more children and grandchildren through marriages. She looked at me with such light in her eyes, and I told her, all of us are here because of you, grandma. And grandma looked at my mom, my dad, Ian, and me, and with her big beautiful smile simply said, that pleases me. Even when grandma was unable to remember exactly who we all were, she was so proud of all of us and loved all of us so dearly. We were her family, and that is all that mattered.

Robin Carbone-Combe

280w ago

Mom, you always told me after Dad died that it was you and me against the world, and that wherever I went, you were going too. I know that you are with Dad and Warren now and they are taking care of you. I’m sure you’re beating Warren in dominos just like you did years ago. Save my place, whenever my time comes I will join you in the game. I’m so grateful that I got to sit with you and hold you before you passed. You knew my name and reached out to hug me. I kissed your cheek telling you each kiss was for me, Jess, Josh, Gary and Toby and you smiled. Wherever you go Mom, I will be there too and until that time, I carry you with me in my heart. I wear one of your wedding rings now and as I look at it, it makes me smile. We love you. Watch over me, Jess and Josh and know we are loving you always.

Seth Ugelow

280w ago

On May 18, 2020, mom’s place opened itself to window visits. Previously, it had been on a total lockdown, with no visitors allowed. While we had to have our temperature taken and complete a data form, we couldn’t have been happier to see her.
We were able to get within inches of mom but communication was difficult. Then I noticed that mom was smiling when Randi and I spoke and told her a story from our family’s past. I also noticed that mom was holding the picture of her great grand daughters, Emerson and Scarlett, that we had brought for her in both of her hands. We later found out that the nursing aids showed her that picture every day.
I also noticed that mom was reaching out to try and touch my hand by rubbing her fingertips against the window screen.
We then added Albert and Paula and their daughters – Sharon and Brianne, and my daughters Lisa and Melissa to subsequent visits over the next 10 days. During these visits, we all shared our memories of mom/grandma and told stories about her.
When it was time to leave, mom would give us a little smile or a tilt of her head.
These visits were very special and memberable to me. I will never forget their intimacy. Rest in peace mom. We love you.

Ruth Rosenblatt

280w ago

Eulogy for Leah Ugelow - June 1, 2020
By Ruth Rosenblatt

I want to add my voice to those of you who will speak about Leah.

I was three years older than Leah. When we were young, that age was considered sufficient and responsible enough to help out with the younger children. Therefore, almost from the start, we were together, and the bond grew stronger as we grew.

We shared confidences, shared experiences, and while at the beginning, she was my tag along sister, she grew to be my best friend.

I had become pregnant just before Sidney was sent abroad to serve in the Armed Forces. It was then that I went to live with my parents and older sisters, Kate and Minnie, in Brooklyn, where Leah was also living during Seymour’s deployment. Leah was with me throughout my pregnancy and when I brought my baby home. Charles had several loving mothers in that home. Missing our soldier husbands while living with extended family and raising a little baby boy, brought Leah and me even closer together.

At war’s end, with the return of our husbands, life normalized for us all. Leah and Seymour spent some time living with Mama and Papa, then moved to the Bronx, while Sidney and I lived in Brooklyn. A few years later, our brother Irving and his wife Julia, then Leah and Seymour, and ultimately Sidney and I all moved onto the same block in Laurelton, Queens. We could not have been happier, and soon populated our homes with more lively children. The kids drifted from house to house playing with cousins, most of the time finding themselves in the Ugelow basement or backyard.

Leah and I were still a team, with Leah the driving force, the dynamo with the good ideas, and the drive to see plans through. Nothing was too early or too late. Nothing was too hard to attempt, and she dove in with relish. Family was so important to her, and she was full of schemes for us to do together. She was the Lucy to my Ethel, and I just adored her.

The years went by. We each went through good times and difficult times. But at all times, Leah remained my best friend, my confidant.

Becoming elderly and more infirm hasn’t been easy. But having the ability to be supportive of each other has made this journey a bit easier. In her final few years, I have missed having the sister that I have shared so much with. She will always have my love, and I will forever miss her.

Albert Ugelow

280w ago

Remembering Leah Ugelow
My Mom grew up in a large family, the youngest of 5 children, 4 girls and 1 boy. Growing up she learned the value of having a close-knit family.
It was obvious to anyone who knew my Mother that her family was the most important thing in her life. Her best friend was her sister, Ruth. I doubt that it was a coincidence that Ruth and her family moved into a house 5 doors down from us. Her brother, my Uncle Irving and his family, also lived on the same block across the street and 5 houses up the block. Mom and Aunt Ruth wore a path in the alley way behind our homes as they traveled back and forth, probably several trips a day.
One example of the togetherness was our “infamous” Philadelphia trip. Uncle Sidney (Ruth’s husband) had convinced us that we should take a day trip to Philadelphia. He told us it was just a short drive and that we could go and come back in one day. The people who made this trip were Sidney, Ruth, Toby, Leah, Seymour, Seth, myself and Aunt Minnie (another sister). Needless to say, it was not a day trip and we decided to stay overnight in Philadelphia. The eight of us walked into a hotel and asked for a few rooms. When they asked where was our luggage, they just received a blank stare, since we did not have any. That night we ate at a restaurant where we had two tables, one for us kids and a second for the adults. Us kids all felt so grown up to be at our own table.
Mom and Dad welcomed the spouses of their children and grandchildren into the family with open arms. Vic, Sharon’s husband, felt that they treated him like a grandson, which meant a lot to him because he never knew his own grandparents.
My cousin Toby recently told me that Mom was the cool/hip sister of the group. She was the one she turned to for advice on various matters. In her later years she became the fun grandma. She was the one who would get down on the floor to play with her grandkids. When they got older, she and my Dad took them to museums, plays, ballets and operas. When Sharon was very little, maybe 4 or 5, they took her to her first ballet performance to see the Nutcracker. Mom liked to tell how Sharon sat on her lap the whole time and swayed to the music. As her grandchildren got older the types of games changed to more mature varieties such as scrabble and dominos.
Anyone who knew my parents could easily see that Dad was her soul mate and her whole world. When Dad got sick, she took over the management of the family finances. She did well for several years until she started to get overwhelmed with the effort. I believe that she missed him terribly and looked forward to the day when she could rejoin with him for eternity. At the same time, I think that she was unhappy with the idea of leaving her family behind. Eventually, I think that she realized that her job with her family was finished. She had sufficiently prepared her children and grandchildren to thrive and grow and it was OK for her to leave this world and spend her eternity with her true love, her husband.
Good bye Mom, we love you and miss you. You will always be in our hearts and in our minds. The lessons that you taught us are part of the legacy that you have left for future generations.

Albert Ugelow

280w ago

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