Sophie (Laks) Wechsler passed away peacefully in her Margate, Florida home, shortly after midnight on Tuesday, January 14, 2020, in the presence of her two sons Mark and Jeffrey Wechsler and daughter-in-law Robin Wechsler.
Sophie was born on March 4, 1923 in Kielce, Poland. Her parents and two brothers were lost in the atrocities of World War II. Sophie survived placement in multiple Nazi work and concentration camps until she was liberated from the notorious Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945. Thereafter, she was hospitalized in a Germany until she recovered from a variety of illnesses contracted while imprisoned. She was relocated to the United States by the Allied forces and US government, as many Holocaust survivors were, at the age of 22. She initially arrived in New York City but shortly thereafter lived with relatives in Boston and Chicago before permanently relocating to Brooklyn, New York. When she first arrived in the United States, Sophie did not speak a word of English. She learned the language and achieved a high school equivalency diploma by attending evening courses while simultaneously working as an administrative assistant in the garment district in New York City.
Sophie married her husband Herman, also a Holocaust survivor born and raised in Obertyn, Poland (now Ukraine), on September 7, 1952 and remained happily married for more than 43 years until Herman’s passing on February 14, 1996. Sophie and Herman relocated from Brooklyn to Margate, Florida, when they retired in 1981.
Sophie had an extremely easy-going demeanor and a kind and caring personality. She also had a truly unrivaled, ferocious will to live and to do so independently, on her terms. Subsequent to her husband’s passing, Sophie lived entirely independently until her passing.
Upon retirement, she dedicated a great deal of her time to community and charity organizations. She enjoyed knitting and needlepoint. In fact, her home was adorned by a half dozen or more breathtaking needlepoint pieces she created and framed which were tantamount to unique pieces of artwork.
Sophie’s legacy will live on by virtue of the class, dignity and kindness she exhibited in her interactions with family and friends for the past three quarters of a century.
Funeral services will be held at Gutterman Musicant, 402 Park St., Hackensack, NJ, on Friday, January 17, 2020 commencing at 11 AM. Family and friends are encouraged to arrive at 10:15 – 10:30 AM.
Burial will occur immediately following the funeral service, at the Cedar Park Beth El Cemeteries located at 735 Forest Ave., Paramus, NJ.
Shiva will be held at the home of Mark Wechsler, 15 Tiffany Court, Montville, NJ, on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, January 19, 20 and 21 from the hours of 12 PM-3 PM and 5 PM-8 PM. Minyan will be held at the same location at 7:15 PM each evening.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the United States Memorial Holocaust Museum, Washington DC, or the Pine Brook Jewish Ctr., Pine Brook, New Jersey, in the name of Sophie Wechsler.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.8.18