Gertrude Zeehandelaar Dies at 91

Former New Rochelle resident Gertrude Zeehandelaar died April 26, 2013 at the age of 91.

She was a Holocaust survivor whose resilience and strength were forged during the Kindertransport when, as a teenager, she was placed in charge of the evacuation of dozens of Jewish children from the Netherlands to Britain.

Following the war, she lived in Cuba while awaiting entry to the United States. She raised her family in New Rochelle and Eastchester, N.Y., and was predeceased by her husband Frederik J. (died October, 1998) and son David N. (died March, 2010).  

She is survived by her daughter-in-law Mona, who was her primary caregiver following her son David’s death, and by son Eric and daughter-in-law Randi.  

She cherished her four grandchildren Dara, Rachel, Daniel and Travis, and felt privileged to celebrate their successes and raise a glass L’Chaim at life cycle events, most recently the marriage of Rachel to Jason Roth.  

Though she outlived many of her friends, she will be remembered as an active member of Hadassah, a recent resident of Martins Run in Philadelphia where she taught opera classes, and by the generations of family friends who respected her wisdom, indomitable spirit, and devotion to family and cats.  

The gravesite service was at Mt. Eden Cemetery in Hawthorne, NY.  

Donations may be made to Mainline Reform Temple, 410 Montgomery Ave, Wynnwood, PA, 19096 (L’Dor Va’Dor Fund) or New Rochelle Hadassah, c/o Carole Curtis, 60 Somerset Road, New Rochelle, NY, 10804.