Last Monday, a car killed a 95-year-old woman who survived the Nazis, Chernobyl, and COVID while she was crossing the street outside her Brooklyn home.
Around 12:40 p.m. on Thursday, a cargo van turned left and struck Mayya Gil and her home health aide as they were crossing Cropsey Avenue in front of her Bensonhurst apartment near 24th Avenue, according to the New York Police Department.
Gil passed away from her injuries, but the health aide was admitted to the hospital in stable condition. Additionally, the driver was not charged or arrested, according to the NYPD.
According to a 2020 New York Times story, Gil, who was born in Khmelnytskyi in western Ukraine, moved with her mother and brother to Kyiv, the nation’s capital, when she was 12 years old in order to escape the Nazi invasion. While living under Soviet control, she married Vilyam in Kyiv and had twin girls.
One of Gil’s children then left home and relocated to New York City in 1986 after the horrific Chernobyl nuclear accident in Ukraine. The rest of the family soon settled in Bensonhurst, following six years later.
The daughter who led her family’s immigration to the US, Larisa, died of late-stage pancreatic cancer in 2013 at the age of 58.
In order to help provide Larisa with the final resting place she so richly deserves, Gil’s family was added to the New York Times Neediest Case Fund since they were initially unable to buy a burial plot.
At the height of the epidemic, Gil’s husband, Vilyam, died in 2020 after catching COVID-19.
But according to her daughter Irina Lizunova, Gil persevered through it all because of her love for her family and her active participation in the Bensonhurst community, which included becoming a member of the Jewish Community Center in her neighborhood.
Everyone is familiar with her. Lizunova informed the magazine that she was a highly active woman.
Natasha Famighetti, Gil’s granddaughter, described her as the most kind and caring person she had ever encountered.
There was nothing she enjoyed more than spending time with her family.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.