Rebbetzin Pia Obermeister, o"h, was brought to her
eternal rest last week. She was 87 years old at the time of
her petirah.
Rebbetzin Obermeister was born in the Polish village of
Biloray, a city replete with Chassidim. Her parents' home was
near that of HaRav Mordechai Rokach, rav of the town and
brother of the Admor of Belz. Growing up in such an
environment and in the Torah home of her father, Reb Avrohom
Falk, she imbibed genuine yiras Shomayim and ahavas
Torah. In 5678 (1918), due to persecutions taking place
in the town, her father was forced to emigrate by himself to
America. It took him eight years until he was able to
transfer his family to that country's safe shores.
In 5692 (1932), when she was already in America, she married
HaRav Yaakov Obermeister. They later on moved to East
Flatbush, near the Chofetz Chaim Yeshiva, which they helped
expand.
There on America's foreign shores, Rebbetzin Obermeister was
careful to daven every day, and played an active role
in chessed and tzedokoh endeavors, giving
generously to many yeshivos, Torah institutions and
gemachim.
She oversaw the chinuch of her grandchildren and
helped and encouraged them in every manner possible.
Throughout her life, she suffered sorrow and bereavement, but
always hid her feelings and appeared happy. With a warm,
glowing smile and a genial expression, she would continue her
chessed activities with vim and vigor.
Six years ago, she fulfilled her lifelong aspiration and
moved to Yerushalayim with her husband. Despite her advanced
age, she volunteered every week in the Bikur Cholim Hospital
and in the Neve Simcha old age home, where she realized her
full capacity for chessed. In her characteristic
manner, she would greet all those in her care with warmth and
understanding, not leaving the bedside of those in need until
they felt better.
A year ago, she suffered a cerebral stroke, and since then
was hospitalized. But even in that situation, her refined
middos were evident. She would greet all of her
callers with a smile and thank them for having come to visit
her.
At her levaya, which left the Shamgar funeral home,
mournful hespedim were delivered by her sons, who
described her outstanding personality, and her
chessed, as well as her staunch supervision of the
chinuch of her grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband, her son, her daughter,
grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of whom are
pursuing Torah's paths.
