General Information

Full Name: Sheila Doris Berg​
Date of Death: Sunday, May 31, 2026

Sheila Doris Berg, daughter of the late Frances and Jack Pearlman, passed away on May 31, 2026. Born on March 16, 1938, she grew up alongside her beloved younger brother, Stuart, on Wadsworth Avenue in Washington Heights—affectionately known as “The Heights.”  It was there that she formed lifelong friendships with her neighbors at 320, creating bonds that served as the basis for her fierce loyalty to all those she held dear throughout her entire life.

Sheila attended PS 189, George Washington High School and Hunter College, where she received a business degree. Her first job was in Personnel at Mangel Stores, and she later had a lengthy career in sales.

In 1962, she married Irwin. The couple lived in Flushing, New York, where they welcomed their first daughter, Audrey, in 1966. They later settled on Long Island in Commack, where their daughter Heather and son Daryl were born.

Sheila was an active member of Temple Beth Sholom in neighboring Smithtown. In addition to extensive involvement in a number of synagogue-related social and volunteer groups, she also became active in the local chapter of the Women’s American Organization for Rehabilitation and Training (ORT), eventually serving as its president. The temple and ORT served as the basis for her vast social community as her family’s life grew on Long Island.

Sheila’s extremely extroverted personality and innate ability to build relationships served her well in her sales career, beginning with Fuller Brush, and later including supermarket advertising, vending machines, consumer goods and finally her own candy and sundries distribution business. In fact, Sheila was well known for having candy nearby to satisfy any sweet tooth.

Sheila was, without exception, a friend to everyone. No distance was too great, no simcha too small and no life cycle moment too ordinary to stop her from immediately planning for she, Irwin and the kids to show up, celebrate and share in the joy. She also made sure that anyone who couldn’t drive had a ride to join in these moments, no matter how far out of the way it took her.

She will be remembered by all for her generous, outgoing, humorous and determined spirit. Connections came naturally to Sheila. She could meet someone once and confidently say, “I know you from somewhere,” when, more often than not, she did. Turning strangers into friends and friends into lifelong fixtures in her world was, without question, Sheila’s superpower.

Sheila and Irwin left Commack in 2005, beginning a wonderful new chapter of their lives in East Windsor, NJ. After Irwin’s passing in 2015, Sheila remained in their home until 2023, when she moved to Lester Senior Living in Whippany, NJ, where, true to form, she quickly became involved, served as president of the Resident Council and made many new friends.

Sheila is survived by her children Audrey Longfellow (Jim), Heather Wiederhorn (Steven), and Daryl, and adored grandchildren, Jessica, Ethan, Haley, Hannah and Lennox to whom she referred to herself as “THE GMA.” No detail in their lives was too small to bring her joy.

The family respectfully asks that if inclined, in lieu of flowers, donations in Sheila’s memory be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the charity of one’s choice.

SHIVA:
Home of Heather and Steven
-Tuesday, June 2:  Immediately following burial until 8:30 PM.
-Wednesday, June 3:  12:00 PM – 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM.
-Thursday, June 4:  1:00 PM – 4:00 PM, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM.