Rochelle Louise Wenger

Rochelle Louise Wenger was known for her outgoing personality and her passion for her family, friends, and animals. She was a devoted wife and mother, as well as a talented cook and seamstress. For many years, she hosted large holiday celebrations for family, friends, and the community, and prided herself on making everyone feel warmly welcomed and encircled in her love. She had a singular way of finding creative solutions, no matter how big the obstacle.

Rochelle grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the daughter of Max Silverstein, a pharmacist, and Gertrude Silverstein, a medical technologist. She was the third of four children, along with Harvey, Roberta, and Deborah, who grew up behind the soda fountain of their family-owned pharmacy. Rochelle attended Oregon State University and completed her B.A. at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. After hearing about a charming young assistant rabbi who was new to her hometown, Rochelle and her sister Debbie went to Friday night services. They had dinner with Rabbi Frederick Wenger afterward. Despite Rochelle's certainty that Fred had talked to Debbie all night and planned to call her sister, Fred called Rochelle the very next morning to set up a date. They married soon after at the synagogue in front of over a thousand guests, and Rochelle took on the often-overlooked challenges and rewards of being a rabbi's wife. Fred's rabbinical career worked so well because Rochelle was always there to enable his generosity to their communities.

After a year spent in Israel, Fred took on rabbinical pulpits in Huntington, West Virginia, where their son, Haim, and their daughter, Miriam, were born. The family served pulpits in Overland Park, KS, and Skokie, IL, before moving to Salt Lake City in 1987 to serve at Congregation Kol Ami. Rochelle devoted energy and commitment to helping her children pursue their childhood passions. Haim went on to become a professional pilot, and Miriam became a professional ballerina, largely due to Rochelle's commitment to seeing her children follow their dreams.

After Fred's so-called "retirement" in 2003, he and Rochelle spent extended periods in Anchorage, AK, where he served as an interim rabbi, and in Israel, where they volunteered together to teach English at Youth Villages for Ethiopian and underprivileged residential students. Whenever they were in Salt Lake, Rochelle and Fred were avid supporters of the Salt Lake Chamber Music Society, and music was central to their lives. They spent many joyful and peaceful evenings at home, simply listening to their extensive music collection.

Rochelle faced an array of health challenges throughout her life, so much so that managing her health often felt like her full-time job. She often joked that she should have been a doctor, given all the medical knowledge she'd accumulated over the years, and she never stopped educating herself or powering through the difficulties. She and her family will always be deeply grateful for the exceptional medical care she received in Utah, especially Dr. Robert Fowles, Dr. Nedda Hendler, and Dr. James Pearl, the individual doctors who followed her complications for many decades, and the caretakers at Holladay Homecare and Canyon Home Health and Hospice, particularly Jasmin and Paul.

Rochelle is survived by her sister, Deborah Silverstein, and her partner, Michelle Lesley; her brother Harvey, and his wife Kathy and their children: Danielle, Adam, Tamara and their families; her son, Haim, and his wife, Carmen Wenger; her daughter, Miriam, and her husband, Daniel Landis; and six loving grandchildren, Dena and Hannah Wenger, and Stephen, Lynne, Claire, and Meredith Landis.

The family will hold a private funeral. Contributions in Rochelle’s honor to Congregation Kol Ami, Utah Jewish Family Service, or a charity of your choice are appreciated.