Rachel Gorelick

Rachel Gorelick, recently of Maplewood, New Jersey, and formerly of West Orange and Livingston, passed away peacefully at home on October 27, 2021 at the age of 88.

Rachel was predeceased by her beloved husband, Eli Gorelick, to whom she was married for 62 wonderful years. She leaves behind her son, Abe, and his wife, Laurie, of Sudbury, Massachusetts; her son, Jeffrey, and his wife, Margie, of Ridgefield, Connecticut; and her son, Steven, and his wife, Cheryl, of Maplewood.

Rachel also leaves grandchildren Sarah and Cameron Jones, Jordan Gorelick, Molly Gorelick, Danielle and Will Shlosh, Jacob and Jessica Gorelick, Elana and Marc Sehgal, Maxine Gorelick, Shira Gorelick, and Shoshana Gorelick, as well as great grandchildren Jack, Scarlett, Emma, Mia, and Eve. She also leaves her beloved brother, Arty Novom, and his wife, Harriet, and her treasured sister-in-law, Mimi Novom, wife of her deceased brother, Steven, all of California, as well as many much-loved nieces, nephews, and cousins, and her devoted caretaker, Lily Prempeh.

Rachel was a graduate of Weequahic High School in Newark, New Jersey, and was joyfully a nursery school teacher for 12 years at Temple Beth Shalom in Livingston. She loved playing mahjong and canasta, dear friends, great songs, Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand, the Jersey shore, and dancing with her Eli.

Her greatest joy was spending time with her beautiful family. Among other attributes of her greatness, she will be remembered for and live on through her unwavering love, kindness, and empathy for all people, and her quiet, yet heroic courage.

A funeral service was held on Monday, November 1, at Bernheim -Apter-Krietzman Suburban Funeral Chapel, 68 Old Short Hills Rd., Livingston, New Jersey with a burial service at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery in Iselin, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates a donation to any good cause, and has identified two organizations: Active Minds (providing mental health support to young adults, including on college campuses nationwide); and Rent Party (based in Maplewood/ South Orange, providing food support, among other assistance, to local families in need, fundraising through live music and other community events).