Esther (Trudy) Wachs

February 7, 2023, 10:21 pm 0 Edit

WACHS: Esther (Trudy) Wachs, 86, of Pittsburgh, died peacefully on Feb. 6, 2023, at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, the city she loved and lived in most of her life.
While training as a registered nurse, she met her husband, Dr. Hirsh Wachs, and married him at 18 years of age, defying the “no married students allowed” rule. Her work as a nurse was put aside in order for her to spend her time on her most important job: raising, loving and nurturing four children. While they were young, she gave them unconditional love, joy and permission to play and be kids. Later, as they grew, she returned to work-life as a nurse in the field of geriatrics, creating adult day care in Pittsburgh. Her center in Mt. Lebanon, named Council Care, helped so many families keep their loved ones at home with the support of this song-filled center. In addition, as director of volunteers of the Jewish Home for the Aged, she taught staff and volunteers how to care for seniors in nursing homes with love, patience and humor. In later years, she devoted much time to reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. She shared her love of sports — specifically the Pirates and the Steelers — with anyone who would wave the terrible towel with her and yelp with delight when they scored. Everyone loved Trudy; she was so easy to love. She is survived by her children, Dovid Wachs (Ettie), Ellen Schall (John), Shelly Dembe (Al) and Steven Wachs (Allise), as well as her many, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The funeral will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 12 p.m. at Shaare Torah Congregation, 2319 Murray Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217, followed by burial at Torath Chaim Cemetary, 2649 Wickline Road, Gibsonia, PA 15044.
Shiva information:
Wednesday: Mincha/Maariv at 5:30 p.m. in the community room at Imperial House, 5600 Munhall Road, Pittsburgh, 15217, followed by shiva, 7 – 9 p.m. in apartment 615
Thursday: Shacharis, 7:30 a.m. in apartment 615, Imperial House; shiva 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4–9 p.m.
Friday: Shacharis, 7:30 a.m., same PJC