Rachel Szmuszkovicz

SZMUSZKOVICZ, RACHEL of Kalamazoo

Died peacefully at her home on Tuesday evening, April 4, 2017, at age 92. She was born on April 12, 1924, the daughter of Edward and Manya (Gachnochi) Tyktin. Rachel was the beloved wife of Jacob Szmuszkovicz for 69 years and friends since they were 16 years old. Jacob preceded her in death on October 11, 2016, at age 92. Adored mother of Daphne and Jeff Champagne of Harrisburg, PA; Kathryn Szmuszkovicz and Chip Yorke of Vienna, VA; Deborah and Stephen Devaux of Boston, MA; Drs. Jacqueline Szmuszkovicz and Edward Brunngraber of Altadena, CA; grandmother of Jessica Champagne and Max Toth, Joshua Champagne and Nicole Durkin, AJ and Eric Devaux, and Ted and Max Brunngraber; great-grandmother of Benjamin Toth Champagne and she knew she had another great-grandchild on the way. Mrs. Szmuszkovicz spent her career as an educator at universities, schools, and in community settings. She was committed to constructive and positive interaction between people of different beliefs and cultures to promote understanding and increase acceptance of others. Private family services were held at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel. Interment was in Jewish Riverside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Magen David Adom (Israel relief organization) in memory of Rachel Szmuszkovicz at www.afmda.org or AFMDA, P.O Box 96402, Washington, D.C. 20090-6402.