Rochelle Weithorn

OM TARA TU TARA - A LIFE WELL SERVED

Rochelle Weithorn

June 4, 1948 – July 5, 2025

Rochelle Weithorn, a devoted Tibetan Buddhist practitioner, two-time author, artist, director, beloved mother, sister, aunt, friend and world traveler, passed peacefully in New York City on July 5, 2025, at the age of 77, with her only child, daughter Nicole, by her side.

Born in Torino, Italy, on June 4, 1948, to David and Helen Weithorn, Rochelle led a life in New York City guided by compassion, creativity, and spiritual conviction.

A gifted and sought-after hair stylist and makeup artist, Rochelle served New York’s elite and celebrity circles for over two decades—known not only for her talent, but for the warmth and care she extended to everyone she encountered. As her reputation grew throughout the 1980s and ’90s, she self-published her first book for brides, Be Beautiful and Stay Sane on Your Wedding Day, offering expert guidance and calm wisdom to women preparing for one of life’s most memorable milestones. The book remained in bridal circulation for decades.

Later in life, Rochelle became a respected and sought-after pendulum dowser, using the sacred guidance of Tara (the female Buddha) to clear negative energy for clients around the world. A passionate advocate for natural healing, she helped hundreds navigate emotional and spiritual challenges with profound intuition, compassion, and care.

Her deep commitment to the Dharma, her teachers, and her practice remained central throughout her life. Through her nonprofit organization, the Milarepa Children’s Theater and Chorus, Rochelle lovingly introduced children to the teachings of the Buddha and the compassionate path of Tara and her 21 emanations. She went on to self-publish her second book, My Summer with Tara, and produced a number of children’s plays and educational videos on the life of the Buddha and Tara. Her work circulated globally and was also translated and published in German.

Rochelle’s life was one of service—lived with immense tenacity, generosity, and a tireless desire to ease the suffering of others. A lifelong lover of the arts, an explorer of cultures, and a great appreciator of beauty in all its forms, her travels and boundless curiosity enriched both her personal and spiritual journey.

She is survived by many: her only child, Nicole; her immensely beloved rescue cat, Pumpkin; her seven nieces and nephews; and her cherished siblings—Victor, Anita, Gloria, and Mark—with whom she shared enduring bonds of love.

But above all, Rochelle was a profoundly devoted mother. Her greatest joy was her daughter, Nicole, with whom she built a rich and creative life in New York City spanning more than 50 years. Their impenetrable bond was rare—best friends, artistic collaborators, and intuitive companions. For over two decades, they worked side by side as hair and makeup artists, sharing not only a profession, but a deep and abiding love rooted in mutual care and devotion.

Rochelle was a luminous presence—elegant, insightful, and selfless. Her legacy of compassion, wisdom, and beauty lives on in the hearts of all who knew her.

In 2020, at the start of the pandemic, Rochelle moved in with her daughter Nicole and her cat Pumpkin. They spent the final five years of her life together—an extraordinary conclusion to a majestic journey of creativity, love, and shared devotion.

Her daughter’s final wish: May Rochelle fly free and obtain enlightenment now.