Boruch Dayan Hoemes: Rochel Leah Katz, 26, OBM

With great sadness and pain we inform you of the untimely passing of Rochel Leah Katz, OBM, of Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was 26 years old.

Rachel Leah was born with a congenital heart defect. One chamber of her heart did not fully develop. She had open heart surgery a few hours after birth to put in a shunt to allow her blood to circulate.

At ages one and two-and-a-half she had two more open heart surgeries, and last year, at age 25, her doctors recommended a very rare and last-resort procedure – a complete heart and lung transplant.

Unfortunately, despite the extensive medical care and community support she received, Rochel Leah succumbed to her condition at around 6:30am this morning, September 12 – Tes Elul.

Despite her severe hardships, Rochel Leah maintained a cheerful attitude and a smiling face. She was always ready to help others, even though it was she who was perpetually in need of help.

She is survived by parents, Howard and Edith Katz, and siblings: Rabbi Baruch Katz (Minneapolis, MN) and Rabbi Avraham Tzvi Katz (Crown Heights).

The levaya will be held today at 3:00pm at the United Hebrew Cemetery, 2605 W. 70 1/2 Street in Richfield, MN.

Shiva will be held from 7:00pm to 9:00pm tonight in the Club Room of her apartment building, 4725 Minnetonka Blvd, S. Louis Park, MN.

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