Say Their Name

Yehudis Chava

Mother. Daughter. Cousin. Friend. Teacher.

Nails that were always painted. Voice that was always hoarse.

Blue eyes. Soft Skin. Brown Hair.

Chava.

Always cooking, baking. Running around doing errands. Smiling, always smiling. Busy.

Yehudis.

Dressed stylishly, always with the nicest purse and cutest clothes. Makeup always done.

Mommy.

Friday night, asleep on the couch with a magazine in hand. Buying gifts for everyone. You loved Mint ice cream and chocolate, though you weren't supposed to have it for your voice. You loved having sweets and cake, saying it was because you never got it as a kid being a doctor's daughter.

Yehudis Chava.

Your laugh always made me smile. You always had a twinkle in your eye when you heard fun gossip. Errands on Kingston took twice as long because you were always stopped on the way by every person. Everyone always wanted to say hi and talk to you, you had that energy.

Yehudis.

Fighter. Believer. You battled breast cancer twice, somehow you never lost your faith and belief. Most people would waiver but not you. You believed until the end. Somehow it made you seem stronger, not weak or naive.

Yehudis.

Morah Yehudis is what they called you. You'd come home from work, cook us dinner. Clean the house. Then work on your projects for your classroom. Always fitting everything into your day. Did you ever sleep?

Mommy.

You always had the softest pajamas. Slept with a night light even though your door was always open. You never got to sleep in. You would try on Shabbos morning until Tatty would come barging in to wake you up, only to leave a few minutes later. It was a like a game you two played.

Yehudis Chava.

A wife. You always did Tatty's laundry. Made him his food, even his eggs. Always had his clothes set out for him. I used to watch you and think why can't he do it himself? But you enjoyed taking care of him. That's what you did - took care of people. Your students. Your friends. Your husband. Your children. Your grandchildren. Your family. You took care of yourself last. Anytime you bought food you would automatically give half to one of us. You went shopping for yourself and somehow bought something for 2 kids and 3 grandchildren.

Yehudis Chava Baitz.

A doctor's daughter. A special teacher. The best wife. Super mom. My best friend. Now my daughter's namesake.

• Mushky Brady