Obituary of Selma Drew

Selma Drew Woodridge, NY July 14, 1925 - April 2, 2011 An extraordinary person, an ordinary life. Selma Drew, born July 14th 1925, was an extremely devoted daughter, wife, mother and grandmother. She was always there with a helping hand, kind word, or the best blueberry pancakes, matzo ball soup, and creplach we've ever tasted. If anyone needed a ride she was always willing. Whether it was driving to Monticello or Miami, our mother loved her 1986 Honda accord and drove it over 400,000 miles. She delighted in the simple things in life like picking berries, and taking care of her family. In her 40's she married Gerald Drew. He was a 40's bachelor. A dentist for the NY Titans (now the NY Jets) with a practice in Manhattan, she worshipped and adored him. In difficult times she worked tirelessly driving him to work, then coming back home cooking dinner, then going back to the office in the middle of the night to sterilize instruments and in the morning starting all over again. She moved back to Woodridge after her mother had a stroke. Her compassionate care and devotion was a valuable lesson for us. After our father passed away in 1999 her health began to decline. She became bedridden and a fraction of her original self due to Alzheimer's and severe arthritis in 2002-2003. Despite her condition she still had her sense of humor. When asked "what's new?", she would reply "I'm not" or "how do you feel?" respond "with both hand's" . But this seemingly ordinarily wonderful mother lived another life. In her twenties Selma worked as a real estate agent in Arizona. She moved to Miami and managed a large apartment complex for a well known businessman by the name of Sam Kay. She lived in Miami with her roommate, a spider monkey Cleopatra. Then returned to New York and worked as a store detective for the department store Alexanders. Standing slightly less than 5ft tall she would catch and hold shoplifters with her presence alone. Those who knew our mother know she was always honest, generous, caring, and once she made her mind up she had fierce determination. She spoke her mind. She was not defined by being a woman in a time, when being an outspoken woman was uncommon. We would like to thank all of the wonderful people who helped in keeping her in her home with her dignity for these last 8 years. Selma Drew will be greatly missed. She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law May and Harry Nishman, her daughter Jennie Drew, her son David Drew, and her granddaughter Drazia Tobar. Her funeral service will be held (today) Sunday, April 3 at 3:00pm at the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home, 388 Broadway in Monticello. Interment will follow at the Workmen Circle Cemetery, Marsh Road in Glen Wild. Arrangements are under the direction of the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home of Monticello.