| Obituary |
We are heartbroken to announce the passing of Molly Keller Rapkin on Tuesday, June 2, 2020, in her one hundred and fourth year, after losing her final battle to the COVID-19. Born on January 18, 1917, Molly was the youngest of five children of Abraham and Annie Keller. Married to the love of her life, Joseph Rapkin, until his untimely passing in 1977. Special friend of the late Sam Belkin, she will be fondly remembered by the Preston and Rosenfeld families. Loving and caring mother and mother-in-law of Stanley Rapkin and Gail Marcovitch, Barbara Rapkin, and the late Ellen Rapkin. Loving Bubby of Dana and Or Rapkin-Sela; and Jamie Rapkin. Proud Great-Bubby of Harper, Waylon and Palace. Predeceased by her dearest siblings and their spouses, Rae and Solly Pecker, Bertha and Abe Scholl, Tillie and Sidney Black, Ben and Evelyn Keller; and by Joseph’s siblings and their spouses, Louis and Serena Rapkin, Anne and Alex Geller, Nathan and Molly Rapkin, Rose and Sidney Hirsh. Special thanks to all her nieces, nephews, their children, and grandchildren for always including Molly in family events and visits. She will be missed by her many good friends who always kept in contact and visited. Our lifelong friends, Selma and Lazer, were by our sides throughout this journey.
Heartfelt gratitude to Susannah (Susan) for her exceptional care and companionship during the past four years at Maimonides, always making our mom feel like the Queen. Our thanks to the staff of Maimonides Geriatric Centre, especially on 5 South, who have always been friendly, caring, and attentive. Mom was a highly active resident, participating and enjoying all the activities as well as synagogue services. Molly’s final days at the Royal Victoria Hospital COVID-19 Unit, were comforting – the care and compassion shown to her there were sincerely appreciated.
Mom was always active and involved, starting to work at a very early age with her dad in the family hardware store and then on to Kresge’s ‘5 and 10’ to work in the office, where she developed a love for numbers and record keeping. She worked with dad in the restaurant on Crescent Street from 1940 for over twenty years, as well as the restaurants in the Port of Montreal, and the lastly at one on the corner of Côte-Saint-Luc Rd. and Melrose Ave. During that time, mom also worked for Simpsons, freelanced as a bookkeeper with an agency and in the office of Camp B'nai Brith, and volunteered wherever she was needed. Mom loved her winters in Florida, learned about seniors’ travel insurance in her early 70’s and sold policies to seniors until she was ninety-three. In the Century Village, FL, Mom was incredibly active making pottery, doing petit point, Bunka embroidery and hooking rugs, while also attending shows and concerts. Mom was a very outgoing and social person, always remembering to call and visit her family and friends and check up on their well-being, right up to the very last day. She was constantly asking questions to stay in the know and always tried to push herself and others to do the right thing. Mom certainly loved to cook and bake and could whip up a Yom Tov table of delicious food for twenty in lickety-split time. She always organized the Canasta games, was the scorekeeper and served goodies. In her spare time, mom enjoyed reading the newspaper and novels.
Mom will be sadly missed and joyfully remembered by all who knew her. A life well lived.
Words cannot express what this loss means to our family.
Due to the current rules, there will be a private family graveside service and Shiva will be observed privately in Toronto. If so desired, contributions in Molly's memory may be made to B'nai Brith Canada Foundation, 1-844-218-2624 ext.: 104, or to a charity of your choice. |
