PEARL AARONS

AARONS--Pearl. Pearl Aarons, 105, Devoted Family Matriarch, Dies. Pearl Aarons, of New York City, whose life spanned more than a century and whose devotion to her family defined her, died on October 6, 2025. She was 105. Born on August 28, 1920, Mrs. Aarons stood just under five feet tall and often reminded others that "good things come in small packages." Six weeks ago, she marked her 105th birthday by dancing before blowing out the candles, a moment emblematic of her vitality and joy. Her life was marked by resilience and determination. In March 2020, at age 99, she was hospitalized with COVID-19 and told she was unlikely to survive. She recovered, insisting to her nurses that she was "determined to make it to 100," and went on to live another five years. When people asked about the secret to her longevity, her family pointed to her commitment to staying social, her love of bridge -- eventually learning to play on an iPad during the pandemic -- and, above all, her deep connection with her family. She regularly FaceTimed with her great-grandchildren, who knew her as "Gigi." Her constant refrain to her children and grandchildren of "Call me when you get there" embodied both her love and her enduring concern for their well- being. She married Samuel Aarons in 1942, and their marriage endured for 72 years, until his death in 2014 at the age of 97. The couple divided their time between East Rockaway, NY, and Boca Raton, Fla. A meticulous planner, Mrs. Aarons loved entertaining, hosting parties and social events, and was known for her glamour and sense of style. In later years, she could often be found in the courtyard of the Palace Hotel with her longtime aide, Ish Tirbany, where they delighted in surprising strangers, including many celebrities, by revealing her age. Mrs. Aarons was present at nearly every family milestone, attending a granddaughter's wedding and a great-grandson's bar mitzvah well into her 104th year. Though modest in stature, she loomed large in the lives of her family. She leaves behind a legacy of joy, devotion, and resilience that, her family says, will remain with them always. She is survived by her son, Richard, and his wife, Sharon; her daughter, Meryl, and her husband, John; four grandchildren, David (Sydelle), Dana (John), Gregg, and Jenny (Brian); and four great-grandchildren, Evan, Nora, Zach, and Sam. She was the daughter of the late Abe and Molly Gaslow of Baltimore and Brooklyn.