My mother passed away in 1991. I have been trying to find out her Hebrew name but I’m not having any luck. I called the funeral home but they don’t have it on record. How would I find out what her Hebrew name is? The Rabbi who officiated her eulogy is no longer working and I have no way to contact him. None of my relatives remember the name either.
Although I know it’s been a long time already, please accept my condolences on the loss of your mother.
I know you’ve probably checked it already, but it’s very possible that her Hebrew name is written on her tombstone. People are often surprised to discover that even when no one seems to remember the name now.
If her parents belonged to a synagogue when she was born (or even well after), that synagogue may have a record. Even if that synagogue has already closed, they almost certainly gave their holy items away to a different synagogue, which would then take their records too. You’d be surprised how long some synagogues keep records of these things (which is the right thing to do anyway). Very long.
In whichever synagogue she was married, they would have a record. (If your mother had a kesuba, it would certainly be on there.) Also, a synagogue your parents belonged to when you were born should have her name on your birth records.
Further, a local Jewish paper may have a birth notice with her name (even if it’s not too local, but is one of the closest to your area). These papers keep all their back issues. They’ve helped me find out information for people before and they’ve always been very happy to do it. Check a few months of issues after her birth. People often get this info in late.
Otherwise, the rabbi from her funeral may have a record. Even though he left your area, in my experience people are not hard to find (especially with the Internet).
Sorry to write so many suggestions, but I hope one of them will help. If you find the name but can’t read the Hebrew, you can send a picture of it and we can tell you what it says.
Best wishes and Much Success,
Shlomo Shulman