Posted by Norman Gopin:
I sit here with so many thoughts going in and out of my head and along with a heavy heart I find it difficult to accept the fact that my sister is no longer with us. I feel blessed to have had her as my sister, and when my mother passed away Peggy, who has nurtured everyone, became my mother figure. Peggy would never allow fanfare about her as it was always about everyone else. She had a way of making everyone she touched feel special and it always came from her heart. Nothing was about her. She left us in the same fashion. No fanfare about her as she was buried in Israel within 20 hours of her death in New Jersey, right before Yom Kippur leaving little time to eulogize her. That's what she would have wanted. To go out quietly. I could not make it in time to get to Israel for the funeral but my nephew, Ephy was kind enough to arrange for me to attend the funeral via Skype. While this very act of kindness gave me some closure, I'm not sure I will ever have closure regarding her passing. It's so final and it's strange knowing that I will never talk to her again. Family was her backbone. She couldn't stop talking about her husband Saul, her children, grandchildren, great grand children whenever we spoke. Her life was about family and Torah. Those are the things she lived for. Peggy never spoke "Loshan Harah" about anyone and always found good in everyone. This world would be an incredible place if there were more like her. I will never forget the relationship we had and she will be in my heart and mind forever. I love her always, all-ways!!! Norman
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Posted by Bruce Broder:
As she was with all others who knew her, "Mom" cared deeply about the other person, whether that was her son-in-law or the person she just met. In my case, she showed her caring in so many ways, caring about the things she knew I cared about. She knew my culinary likes and dislikes, and made sure I had my favorite foods when we visited. She immediately recognized and appreciated all the large and small changes Adina and I would make in our house. She would ask me about work -- not just "How's work?", but being truly curious so as to try to draw me out (which isn't easy) and engage with me. She understood and shared my passion for discount shopping, and we would share our finds. She talked to me about money and finance things. She engaged me on anything and everything that I cared about. And of course she always told Adina and me how proud she was of us and our kids.
All of the above seems so trivial because she also cared about the real things that I cared the most about. Not the "things" and "topics" I cited above, but the people. My kids, of course -- she was their grandmother. But she cared about so much more. There wasn't a visit with her that she wouldn't ask how my parents were. It's impossible to write words that would express how genuine her inquiries were. It wasn't just the usual pro forma questioning we all resort to. And she would ask how Aunt Lillian was (my mother's sister), and, when Nana (my mother's mother) was alive, she always asked about her. She would understand when things weren't quite right, and, of her own accord, would daven for the people I cared most about. How she cared for Nana from afar was truly special. She was a great support to Adina and me, but especially Adina, as we all davened and did everything we could for Nana. Mom was so proud of Adina for stepping up the way that she did to help Nana and Aunt Lillian however she could.
Mom was a truly special person. She cared so much about everyone else. She cared so much about me.
May her neshama have an aliyah.
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Posted by Aliza Marcus:
I still can't believe I'm writing these lines. Although 3 weeks have past since we received the bad news, I just can't believe it is true. Bubby was everything to me. She had such a major impact on my life. Bubby always knew when I was feeling down and always knew what to say to comfort me and cheer me up. Almost every Shabbos that they would come to us, Bubby and I would walk to shul together on Shabbos morning. Bubby was the one who taught me how to daven in shul and how to follow the davening. Bubby used to sit and listen to all the songs I'd learn in school until she knew them by heart. She would always pay attention to everything I would tell her. She would listen to all my problems and challenges and give me such good advice. As a kid I never felt little around her, she always made me feel like I was an adult and could do adult stuff. She always took me seriously, never brushing off what I said, even if it was something silly. She was such a fun bubby. When I was little Bubby would take my sister and me to the kotel. We would each get a bag with שקלים to give out for tzedaka to every poor person we encountered at the kotel. Then we would say a few פרקי תהילים together and Bubby would give us jelly cookies that to this day we call:"kotel cookies". I recall all those Friday nights when Bubby and Zaidi would be at our house for Shabbos and after the meal we'd all climb into their beds and schmooze, laugh and have a great time together. I know it's hard for everyone to accept her passing, and I can't even imagine what my mother her siblings and especially Zaidi are going through. If it's so hard for me than for them it's probably a million times harder. The hardest thing for me by far is the fact that Bubby always looked forwards to my wedding. She would always tell me:" I know I wasn't able to make it to your Bas Mitzvah, but אי"ה I'll make sure to be there for your wedding". The one thing that comforts me is that when the day comes אי"ה I know that even though physically Bubby is not with us, her נשמה will be right there with us. She will be looking down at me and will be with me with every step I take. Bubby, Hashem decided that this is the best thing for you and for us. that you don't need to be with us anymore and you are probably enjoying being close to הקב"ה, but it is still so hard for us, and we miss you very much. תנצב"ה Aliza.
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Posted by Arianna Balk:
Thursday, October 2, 2014 I can say for all of us was extremely horrible and traumatic. We lost one of the most precious people in our lives. Whether it was a Mother,Mother-in law,a sister, a wife, an aunt , a cousin, a bubby, or even a friend ;we lost someone who was more than close to us but loved us individually, as if there was nothing else in the world to love more. She just had that way of making someone feel so happy and loved, it was her nature,something we will truly miss.I had amazing times to REALLY meet her,love her, spend time with her, and learn from her. She's wonderful, you'll never meet anyone as a beautiful and inspirational as her. I loved my bubby so much (I still do) and I miss her terribly but the thing is I do feel bad for myself, but I especially feel bad for her siblings,husband and children. I look at her husband (my zaidy) and children (my mom and her siblings)and I see how heartbroken they are. I look at them and I feel their pain even though it must be 10 times worse than I could ever imagine. Although, my Bubby was the first person I ever lost that I really was so close to, they lost their wife and mother... I can't even comprehend that. I couldn't even look at them without breaking down and crying....I just felt so terrible for them. I wanted this pain to end for them because I just didn't understand it and I still dont...I love them all so much but like my bubby used to tell me, "It's okay to cry, because if you didn't... I'd be worried...". I had the amazing privillige to talk to her on her last night... I talked to her Wednesday night,October 1st at 10:05 Pm. I was disscussing with her about our shabbos plans, and how I was going to come for Yom Kippur. I was so excited, I never spent Yom Kippur with her and knowing what a true davener she was, I knew it was going to be beautiful.... and it was. Although she wasn't with me physically, she was with me spiritually and I got to daven Yom Kippur with her because I have never felt so much כונה in my davening before and I knew it was because I was with her. Her burial was beautiful,in Israel as it should have been. But every second of it just became worse than the one before... I couldn't believe it.... she was gone. I was never going to be able to call her and hear that ecstatic and cheerful voice saying "Hi Arianna!", I was never going to hear her amazing stories from when she was little, see the admiration and hope in her eyes for when she talked about Israel. So I end here with saying, Bubby I love you soo much.... and so do many other people and we miss you and we cry for you and all I can say is may your נשמה get higher and higher closer to Hashem because He loves you too.
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Posted by Cameron Broder:
I am so fortunate to have had a grandmother like Bubby. She really had a tremendous love for family and Torah. When I would talk to Bubby she always wanted to know how school was going for me. When I would tell her a problem I was having she would hope it ended up getting worked out. You could tell how much she cared because the next time I would talk to her the first thing she wanted to know was if the issue was fixed. When she talked to you, you would get the feeling that she really cared and that you are so special and that would always put me in a great mood. When I would see Bubby she loved to hear me practice my layning. You could tell from simply sitting next to her and seeing her face after I finished that there was nothing she would rather be doing.
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Posted by Dylan Broder:
Bubby was such an amazing person. She always made me feel really special. The thing I`m probably going to miss the most is her phone calls. She`d ask about school and any new projects I`ve started. Last year I made a Haggadah with a bunch of Divrei torah. When she came for Pesach I showed it to her and she was so proud of me. She took pictures of almost every page and told me she would email it to a lot of people. Her saying that made me feel very extraordinary. She always knew what to say, which would make you feel special.
It was very sad to hear the news, especially because I was really looking forward to Bubby coming to my bar mitzvah next year. I know she would have especially liked hearing me lein and also all the singing that the family does.
Fortunately, I was able to talk with her for a long time last year for an interview for school. I had to pick an older family member to interview and I picked Bubby because she is a very good story-teller and she knew so many stories about her family’s past.
I also talked a lot with her when she`d come over for holidays. I usually wake up very early, and Bubby also did. So in the morning, when she`d stay at my house, I`d talk to her about school and other things, and she really cared. That and so many other qualities made Bubby such a wise and great person.
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Posted by Ryan Broder:
Bubby was always very happy with our spiritual growth. I remember on Pesach when Bubby wasn’t feeling so well, so she could only join us for part of the seder. When we were singing z’miros I looked up and saw Bubby sitting in the living room on the couch smiling and listening to us sing.
Whenever we would come to Bubby’s house, she would always make sure we had something to do. In her attic she had Kapla blocks and cars. She also let us play on her iPad , and she would even play on it too. She would make sure we had enough “nosh” to eat – especially chocolate and chips.
When Bubby would talk to me she wouldn’t talk to me like I was a kid; she would talk to me like I was a grown-up, which made me feel important. I’ll really miss her.
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Posted by Chaya and Daniel Fridman:
שאל אביך ויגדך זקניך ויאמרו לך This pasuk, from the Shirat Ha'azinu which we read only last week, is the source of a cardinal value; looking back to the previous generation, seeking their wisdom, imbibing the lessons of their lives. For us, Auntie Peggy was one such person. Her essence, in 'all ways and always', was rooted in the past, in the Gopin family, in the Rav, to whom she was so completely devoted. For our generation, she was an indispensable bridge to the special legacy of this family. Auntie Peggy's voice had two completely characteristic and singular features. First, there was the unmistakable Bostonian accent, daaling, and sweethaaat, and of course, Claak Rd. Second, her voice had such a rich texture, which, in its many layers, seemed to connote the wisdom of her vast life experience. To hear her say anything, even something mundane or prosaic, was to be immediately transported to an era gone by, to be filled with a sense of מסורה. As Chazal say, אפילו שיחת חולין של תלמידי חכמים תורה היא, Auntie Peggy's שיחת חולין, her daily conversation, was a source of inspiration, which will always, in our memories, resound in her indelible voice. Chazal (Makkot 24a) once asked if there was one verse in Tanach which might distill the full range of 613 mitzvot into a single, encompassing credo. The answer given was a verse from the prophets, וצדיק באמונתו יחיה, and a righteous person will live by her faith. Auntie Peggy באמונתה חיה. She was sustained and nurtured by the purity of her faith, and in turn, her family was sustained and nurtured by her. שאל אביך ויגדך זקניך ויאמרו לך- Auntie Peggy, in her words and deeds, gave us, the younger generation, a glorious vision of the past. For this, she has our eternal gratitude, respect, and love. תהא נשמתה צרורה בצרור החיים
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Post by Motty Meyer:
I was shocked and deeply saddened by the passing of Aunt Peggy. She was a very special person and made an impact on everyone she met.
She loved Batya who shared the name of 2 of her favorite people-Ma Gopin(Batya) & Bubi Feder (Golda). Of course, having a Yaffa Bayla as our oldest, didn't hurt either.
I will miss her smile, her warmth and personality at all future Gopin simchas.
תהי זכרה ברוך
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Post by Sharon Levenson:
Even though I only knew your mother for about 8 years, it felt like much more than that. She was a very special individual whom David and I truly admired. We communicated with each other online and by phone very often. She was friendly and caring and wished the best for everyone always. I think of her, my machetenesta, with fondness and miss her dearly.
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Posted by Rita Fuchs:
I will never forget the warmth and love with which Peggy greeted me when I joined the Gopin family.Her beautiful smile put me at ease and made me feel truly welcome. My mother-in- law , Elaine, would tell me stories about Bubby Gopin and her wonderful, pure emunah, her amazing middos, her courage and strength- all of her descriptions fit Peggy , perfectly. Nothing was more important than family. Peggy called whenever there was a simcha and she gave comfort during times of "tzaar". She knew what to say and when to listen. Peggy made everyone feel special. When she would greet you , you could feel how much she cared about you. Her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy and you could feel the special connection she had with your father anytime you were with them. She was truly blessed and we were blessed to have known and loved her.
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