We are saddned to report on the passing of Mrs. Rochel Duchman, who was raised in the famed town of Nevel, and took its lessons along throughout her life, passed away late Thursday night, the second day of Rosh Chodesh Kislev, 5783.
She was 89 and passed away just a few days shy of her 90th birthday on Tuesday.
Rochel was born in the town of Nevel in the winter of 1932. Her formative year was in the presents of the great famous Nevler Chassidim where she absorbed their love for the Rebbe, love for everything Chassidus and Chassidim.
On the morning after Yud Beis Tammuz 1941, Rochel and her family headed out on foot, through the forest north, walking through the forest, several days later Germany occupied Nevel and murdered all remaining Yiddin hy”d.
Miraculously, Rochel and her family made it to Samarkand and later across the border to Western Europe where she married Reb Yisroel Duchman. In 1953 she arrived in the United States of America and settled in Crown Heights, to be near the Rebbe.
The Duchman household served as a hub for Farbrengens and a place for the many guests that came from around the world to spend time by the Rebbe to eat and sleep. Like Chassidim of yesteryears, she lived the saying “The piece of bread that I have is yours just as it is mine.” And they would say the word “yours” first, “…yours just as it is mine.”
Her steadfast strength and resolve for darkei hachasidim v’hachasidus is reflected in her children.
She is survived by her children Sholom Duchman – Crown Heights; Yossi Duchman – Miami, FL; Chana Goldstein – Crown Heights; Mendel Duchman – Los Angeles, CA; Guggy Tzivin – Five Towns, NY; and Boruch Duchman – Miami, FL.
She is also survived by her siblings Gavriel Rubashkin – Crown Heights; and Danya Raskin – Crown Heights. She was predeceased by her brother Avraham Aron Rubashkin OBM.
The levaya will take place Friday morning. There will be no ceremony at Shomrei Hadas. It will be passing 770 at 10:30 AM, and kevura will take place at Montefiore Cemetery at 11:30am.
Baruch Dayan Haemes
