Boruch Dayan Hoemes: Mrs. Laya Block, 79, OBM

With sadness we inform you of the passing Mrs. Laya Block, a Shlucha who served in London, Ontario for over 50 years. She passed away Shabbos morning at the age of 79.

Mrs. Block served as director of the Gan Gani Preschool as part of the Chabad House she ran together with her Husband Dr. Yitzchak Block for over 50 years.

She is survived by her husband Rabbi Dr. Yitzchak and her children; Rabbi Chaim Block (S. Antonio TX), Rabbi Levi Block (Westfield, NJ), Rabbi Mendy Block (Plano, TX), Mrs. Chani Zalmanov (Queens, NY), Rabbi Shmuli Block (Melbourne, Australia). Mrs. Rivkie Baron (Crown Heights), Mr. Avraham Block, Mrs. Basie Gurkow (London, ONT. Canada).

The Levaya will take place on Monday, and will be passing by 770 at around 9:00am and continue to the Montefiore Cemetery in Queens.

Boruch Dayan Hoemes

14 Comments

  • Joshua Keypour

    Baruch Dayan Ha’emet! This woman was a true tzadekes. She taught me 25 years ago and her family has taught, mentored, and assisted ours for longer. They’ve brought a strong knowledge of Gd to many people in a city that otherwise wouldn’t have had it. She was extremely selfless and dedicated, both to Hashem and to chassidus. A great lady. BD’H.

  • Tzvi & Malka Cozocaru

    Baruch Dayan Ha Emeth! Sorry to hear the news.
    My the family not know no more sorrows and should have only simhas .

  • Orly Tennant

    So very sorry to hear of the passing of Mrs. Laya Block. Sending sincerest condolences and prayers for strength and healing to her family and friends during this very difficult time.

  • Yitzchok Schiff

    Boruch Dayan Ha’emes. Without Mrs. Block, I would never be where I am today. Her inner strength, her love of people, her hachnosas orchim, her kiruv rechokim and kerovim all had a tremendous impact on me and my family. My gratitude for her is simply beyond words. Klal Yisroel has lost a true giant. May the family know no more sorrow.

  • Esther

    BD”E
    An amazing woman, shlucha and a gentle loving giant. She will be missed. Moshiach now!

  • Molly Morris (Horowitz)

    BD’E. A mentor, teacher, and beautiful neshama. The world has lost a light.

  • Jason Young, Toronto

    Mrs. Block was an amazing influence on both me and our entire circle of university student friends at Western Ontario in London. She showed us perfection in Bein Adam La’Chaveiro and was a great role model to us all. She was truly a Tzaddeikes and I was very lucky to have had the influence of her and Dr. Block on my life. Her deeds and their ripples on the world will remain as the wonderful tribute to her life.

  • Dan Marans, Israel

    ברוך דיין האמת
    זממה שדה ותקחהו, מפרי כפיה נטעה כרם
    “She envisions a field and buys it, from the fruit of her handiwork she plants a vineyard”
    Mrs Block’s field was the Chabad House in London, and I, like thousands of others, am living and drinking from the fruits of her handiwork to this day.
    May G-d comfort Dr. Block and her children amongst the mourners of Zion

  • Reuven & Shayna (Gadd) Stein

    We have such fond memories of the Block’s table where Mrs. Block’s food was not good, it was ‘chust delicious’. A true tzadekes who had such a significant effect on us in many ways. Mrs. Block and Dr. Block were our models as we raised our own family. She taught by example, how to be an Eved HaShem, how to be a great mother and wife and how to be a friend. Much as we try, and we do try, we will never be able to copy the Blocks’ Shabbos table.
    There is comfort in good memories. May her memory be for a blessing.