By COLlive reporter
Mrs. Kelly (Rachel) Awerbach Zippel, a brave woman who survived the Holocaust to build a large Jewish family living around the world, passed away on Thursday.
She was 90.
Mrs. Zippel was living in Holland at the start of WWII, and was sent to Westerbork concentration camp, in the Netherlands, along with her family.
Her brother and sister were taken to Auschwitz, where they were discovered later to have died.
Through her father’s efforts, Mrs. Zippel was allowed to remain in Westerbork, which she later recounted that she often recalled the times she spent in the Nazi work camp, picking potatoes and barely surviving on meager meals.
She often spoke to her family about the time in the camp, and the day when Canadian soldiers liberated her.
“She lived on with the mission, to help the world and the people that lived in it appreciate how truly lucky and blessed they were,” her grandson Avremi Zippel wrote about her.
“She was fiercely proud of her beautiful family; her children, grandkids, and great-grandkids were her pride and joy, and if you ever lent her an ear for just a short few minutes, you were gonna hear the list of their accomplishments. Spread throughout the world, they were hers, they were making a difference, and she couldn’t be prouder!”
She is survived by her children Mr. Giacchi Zippel-Milan, Mrs. Ildo Minkowitz-Milan, Mrs. Sonia Weitman-Sao Paulo, Brazil, Mr. Raffi Zippel-Milan, Rabbi Benny Zippel-Salt Lake City, Utah and grandchildren and great-grandchildren, many serving on Shlichus all over the world.
The levaya took place today in Lugano, Switzerland.
Baruch Dayan Haemes.
Foi com grande pesar que soubemos da notícia do passamento de D Rachel de abençoada memória. Sua lembrança ficará marcada em nossas memórias como um grande exemplo de nobreza e educaçao, e principalmente pelos grandes laços familiares que mantinha com seus filhos, netos e bisnetos no Brasil e em varios cantos do mundo estando presente em varias ocasioes importantes.
Que seu exemplo de força, coragem e perseverança sirvam de inspiraçao e consolo à familia.
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים
יהי זכרה ברוך
Milano ha perso una persona speciale, una moglie devota e premurosa, una superba casalinga con numerosi ospiti sempre graditi, una guida ed ispirazione per molte persone, una madre dedicata alla famiglia e ai nipoti, una persona modesta e intelligente che faceva molto dietro le quinte per bisognosi, e per la comunita’ ebraica. Tutto questo sempre con un sorriso e mai lamentandosi.
Spero che i figli e la famiglia trovino la forza per portare avanti il suo esempio di ahavat israel e generosita’.
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים
Che hachém vi consola dalla parte dei ftatelli et Sorelle Gansburg Fogli Di rav Menachem Mendel Hillel( milano)
We were so saddened to hear of the passing of our beloved friend Kelly Zippel, O.B.M. We were privileged to call her a friend and we will cherish the many warm memories we had at her Shabbos table and in the various times our paths crossed. We will miss her and we will never forget her. May her family be consoled.
B.H. RABBI BENNY ZIPPEL,
We are so sorry to hear of your loss of your mother, and at this time, we wish you long life, and gezunta yuren. From now on, only simchas, and we should all be well, ad share in each other’s Simchas.
A very fine lady, her neshama should have an aliya in shomayim and her beautiful family as well as klal Yisroel should please have Moshiach Now!
huge loss, a holocaust survivor with regal presence. the loss is tremendous
Four of the children will be sitting Shiva in Milan, Rabbi Benny Zippel will be sitting Shiva in Salt Lake City and will be accepting visitors on Tuesday and Wednesday.