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New Haven native Gertrude Koletsky Slopak died Sunday. Following is a sermon prepared for her Monday funeral by Rabbi Jon-Jay Tilsen of Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel in Westville.
Gertrude Slopak was born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1912 and grew up in the loving home of her Russian-Jewish immigrant parents, Jacob & Lena Koletsky, on Baldwin St. in New Haven, along with her dear siblings Joseph, Barbara, Harry, Simon and Jenny, in a mixed neighborhood of Jewish, Irish, Italian and other immigrants along with American-born neighbors. Her father worked diligently as an optician.
Throughout her life, that family was very important to her, and despite the distance of geography and years, she cultivated her contacts with her sibling, their spouses and children; and she especially enjoyed sharing her life with those who lived nearby like Harry & Esther.
Gert earned a teaching degree and taught in the New Haven public schools, in the 1960s and 1970s. Her patience, intelligence, energy, love of life and learning all came into play to make her a popular and effective teacher. She was careful in her work, filled with the inner strength that enabled her to persevere, always looked her best, and was committed to her students.
Gertrude enjoyed many life-long friendships. After 98 years she did not have many of her high-school classmates around, but she benefited from the friendships she had developed with some younger people including Ellen’s friends, some of whom visited with her in recent years. Gert didn’t view herself as an old lady, even when in her 90s.
Along with her husband Eli, Gertrude enjoyed a happy and active life, dancing, traveling, going to theatre in New Haven and on Broadway, out to the movies, and celebrating family life-cycle events and the holiday like Thanksgiving and Passover together with family. Eli’s passing at an early age marked a difficult turning point in Gert’s life; nevertheless, she went forward trying to enjoy life while she could.
Together with Eli, Gert created a warm and loving home for their daughter Ellen, of blessed memory. They raised a daughter who was kind and attentive, dedicated in her professional work and in all her pursuits, with a strong Jewish identity that informed her values and lifestyle.
Gert made sure that Ellen was involved in Jewish youth activities and had every educational opportunity. The family belonged to Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel, and it was in that context – particularly when she came to faithfully observe a yahrzeit and at the time of Ellen’s passing – that I had the opportunity to get to know Gert. Gert had been very close to Ellen, visiting or speaking together with her every day; Ellen’s passing was a very great loss for her, and Gert’s life was never the same after Ellen’s death.
Gertrude welcomed David Schwartz into the family, and most graciously and warmly in recently years welcomed Suzie as well. David was an exemplary son-in-law, fulfilling the mitzva honoring one’s father and mother through the extraordinary care and attention he gave his mother-in-law over the years. He provided love, attention and care to her since 1975, and in particular in these past few years following Ellen’s death as Gert’s age became advanced. Along with Chuck and Bonnie and other relatives, David enabled Gert to live independently, or to live with the greatest degree of independence and dignity as was possible under the circumstances.
Gert lived a long, full and good life, filled with happiness and too much sadness. It may be that her passing, at this point, was somewhat of a release from the pain of this world, but in the larger picture, her life was productive, dignified and good. She raised many students, inspired relatives and friends to act kindly and honorably, and leaves the world a better place. Her daughter and son-in-law, and her siblings’ children, gave her life meaning, hope, love and care. We have, at this point, but to be thankful for the gift of her life.
