Jeanne Arnold Obituary

Jeanne Anita Gerstein Arnold, 94, of Coconut Creek, Florida, passed away on June 29, 2025.
Jeanne was born on June 16, 1931 in Ossining, New York, the beloved daughter of Sol and Eva (Benovitz) Gerstein, and younger sister of Julius, Irving and George.
Jeanne's parents grew up in the same shtetl in what is now eastern Poland. Sol came to America in 1914, with Eva to follow once he had got settled. World War 1 separated them for five years. Sol worked as a butcher in the lower East side of New York, then joined his uncle's hardware business in Westchester. When Eva arrived, they started a family. Their first two children died of illness, then twins Julius and Irving, George and Jeanne were born.
When Jeanne was 8, the family moved to Croton-on-Hudson where her father established a successful hardware store. She graduated from Croton High School in a class of 16 students and was the Class secretary. Her family suffered a major trauma with the death of her brother Irving exiting a burning tank in combat at the end of World War II.
Jeanne matriculated in Becker Junior College in Worcester, Massachusetts. A few weeks in, she was attending Rosh Hashanah services at Temple Emmanuel, when one of the ushers, Bernard Arnold, met her and asked her out. They became engaged shortly before Bernie was drafted into the army, serving two years stationed in Germany during the Korean War. After graduating, she moved back to Croton and worked as a medical secretary at the Montrose VA Hospital. Jeanne and Bernie married November 30, 1952 and settled in Worcester, where Bernie joined his father's clothing manufacturing and wholesale business, Arnold Coat Co.
On January 1, 1957, they joyfully adopted a newborn son, David, in New Haven. On April 1, 1958, Jeanne gave birth to Steven. She was a caring and dedicated mother and homemaker. The family took summer vacations to Cape Cod and many smaller jaunts around New England, as well as visits to see family in Croton.
Jeanne and Bernie moved to South Florida after the tragic loss of their son David, who had developed schizophrenia. Jeanne began working in retail banking for customer service, enjoying building personal relationships with co-workers and customers, and Bernie continued to work in wholesale clothing sales. They built a new life, traveling in Western Europe and throughout the U.S., joining a synagogue and making new friends while still holding on to old friends from Worcester, and spending time with Jeanne's brother George, her brother Julius, his wife Anita, her nephew Irv and great-niece Julia, who all moved to South Florida. Most of all, they took great pleasure in their grandsons, Zachary, Benjamin, Samuel, and Noah.
After retirement, when they had moved to independent living at Aston Gardens, staff said they never saw them apart - always joined at the hip, they said.
Jeanne is predeceased by her husband Bernard z"l, son David z"l, and grandson Noah z"l. She is survived by her son, Dr. Steven Arnold (Reisa Mukamal), her grandchildren Zachary Arnold (Molly Wasser), Benjamin Arnold (Emalie Clamage), and Samuel Arnold (Spring Greeney), and her great-grandchildren Rose, Charlie, and Levon. A private memorial was held by the family on July 5, 2025. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Jewish World Service or a charity of your choice.