Our mother, Phyllis Savetsky, was always very giving—giving to her family, her friends, her neighbors and even strangers. She never said no to a chesed opportunity if she could squeeze it in. Even though she was very busy raising 10 children of her own, she always made time to help others. She never said that she was too busy to help someone in need, or that it wasn’t her turn to drive—in fact she often drove extra carpools if others couldn’t, and never asked for a reason. She often went out of her way to do chesed. For example, she volunteered to drive a mother from Bergen County to a hospital in New York City during the day multiple times so she could visit her baby. My mother waited outside the hospital until the visit was over to drive the woman home.
The home we grew up in was always open and welcoming—we could invite friends any time of day (or night!), and they were always welcome and made to feel at home. Our mother especially welcomed friends who didn’t have a stable home of their own and needed some extra warmth and attention. She was truly an exceptional woman who made a positive impact on everyone who knew her.
Unfortunately, over the last few years of her life, our mother had to be admitted to the hospital several times on an emergency basis. In those situations, we rushed to grab necessary documents, medicines and personal items—but often forgot many essential items. We therefore felt it would be appropriate to honor her memory by giving a bag of necessary items to patients on their way to the hospital in an emergency, with the hope of relieving just a bit of the stress. Our “Hospital To-Go Bags” are packed with phone chargers, kosher snacks, drinks and a stuffed animal for younger children. They also include a Tehillim card as well as essential information on how to access kosher rooms, important phone numbers and resources in each hospital.
Bags have been donated to BVAC, TVAC and Bergen Hatzalah for storage on their ambulances.
May the neshama of פרידא דאברא בת ירחמיאל have an aliyah.
By Rebecca Rosenthal
