Cancer claims Rochelle Shoretz, Sharsheret founder

Rochelle Shoretz, founder and executive director of Sharsheret, a national non-profit organization supporting women who face breast cancer and ovarian cancer, passed away on Sunday from complications of breast cancer, at the age of 42. 

Her lifework was to prevent and ease the suffering of those battling the disease which ultimately cut her own life short. Her funeral, held Monday in Hackensack, New Jersey, drew 500 of the thousands of people who were touched by the life and work of this heroic woman.

Dorit Schwartz, a Five Towns Sharsheret activist, described how she and other Five Towns volunteers were impacted by Shoretz. At Sharsheret’s benefit event last year, they were inspired to strengthen Sharsheret’s presence in Long Island, meeting with Shoretz, Director of Operations Elana Silber, and Director of Support Programs Adina Fleischmann, to plan programming and resources for affected families in the area. 

“Our goal is that when a woman in Long Island is facing breast cancer or ovarian cancer in any way, she will know to call Sharsheret,” said Schwartz.

Schwartz recounted that one of the recurring themes mentioned at the funeral was, “Despite her personal battle, she thanked G-d for each day, and made the most of each moment. I really got that sense from just being around her. It was an honor and privilege to work with her, and to hear first-hand about her vision for Sharsheret.”

Five Towns resident Malkie Zeidman noted that Shoretz’s quality of gratitude and appreciation was so powerfully portrayed by her sons at the funeral on Monday. “When they spoke, their first words were thank you,” said Zeidman. 

Zeidman added, “Her whole life was about helping other people When working with her, you wanted to come through for her, because we knew that she had such high standards for herself.” 

Commenting on Shoretz’s seemingly limitless energy and passion, even while battling metastatic breast cancer, Zeidman said, “Rochelle defied nature — no matter how sick she got, I never believed  that she would die.”