Chaya, I can’t believe
It’s already been a year
That I have had to live
Without your listening ear
I’m still struggling to accept
That this is really true –
That you are gone, and I have to
Continue here without you
Your wisecracks are very much missed,
You made me laugh like no one could,
You loved to hear me laughing
And believed that I should
I still often reach for my phone,
Wanting to give you a call
To ask your advice
For problems big and small
And then I realize with a jolt
That your phone is likely disconnected
And in my heart, I feel
Sad, lonely and affected
You made yourself available
You listened with so much care
You really understood me
And wiped away my fears
I could talk to you about anything
And everything under the sun
You always had an answer;
Talking to you was so much fun
We knew each other for so long,
Our connection was so real
No matter what I was dealing with,
You always knew how I’d feel
From the time I was young,
Your advice I held so dear
You were the older one,
With knowledge so brilliant, and so rare
Your positivity and motivation
Set me on the track
Of focusing on what I have,
Rather than on what I lack
You always saw the good
In everything that occurred
For every situation,
You had a smile and smart word
Your struggles got more intense
As the years passed
I davened they would go away,
But Hashem chose for them to last
It was so hard for me to watch
Your suffering and pain,
But you accepted it all –
How many lessons did I gain!
You never thought you were special,
But from your life, the world was inspired
You kept your spirits high,
Even when you were connected and wired
You taught me that asher yatzar
Is our bracha to say
For your refuah, I encouraged people
To concentrate on it every day
Now, I continue to say it with Kavanah,
Even though you are with us no more
Each word should be a zechus
That allows your Neshama to soar.
L’ilui nishmas Chaya Rochel bas R’ Yerucham Hakohein