Obituary of Gina Stencel Berdichevsky

Gina Stencel Berdichevsky, 73, of Germantown, MD, passed away on May 20, 2017, in Rockville, MD.

Gina was born in Uzbekistan to Eliakim and Hinda Stencel on February 12, 1944. Her family, originally from Poland, emigrated to the United States in 1951 after a harrowing escape from the Nazis in 1939 and a dozen years living in a work camp in the Soviet Union, where an infant older brother died, and a displaced persons camp in Austria. They settled in Montgomery, AL, where she attended Sydney Lanier High School. She went on to earn a degree in education from the University of Alabama. She loved animals and children and wanted to make a lasting difference in the world. 

Gina is survived by her daughter, Larisa Briggs (husband Noah) of Reston, VA; her brother, Jack Stencel (wife Meg) of Cary, NC; and her nieces and nephews: Mark Stencel (wife Christine) of Arlington, VA; Jeff Stencel of Durham, NC; and Laurie Cutajar (husband Lenny) of Alexandria, VA. She is preceded in death by her mother and father. 

Due to her love of animals, memorial donations (in lieu of flowers) may be made to Poplar Springs Animal Sanctuary at 15200 Mount Nebo Road, Poolesville, MD 20837.