Celia Schuchman

Our Aunt Dorothy shared with us that the very first time she met Celia she immediately felt close to her. Many people experienced this with Celia. With her gentle eyes, her warm and quiet presence, and her caring questions, Celia embraced you. You felt it right away because it was genuine and heartfelt and real.

Celia's first love was Leonard, her husband of 61 years, and her family. As it is for so many parents, words cannot describe the depth of her love and devotion to her three sons (Benjamin and David and Abe), two daughters-in-law (Ellie and Ari), and four grandsons (Micah and Sammy and Isaac and Aaron). Suffice to say that she could become literally sick from worry if one of us was ill or having difficulties. And she was at her happiest when we were happy.

Celia was there for her three sons. Driving us to all manner of after school activities. On the sideline rooting for us at our soccer games and basketball games. Later, though slowed by Parkinson's disease, she was also there for her grandsons. Many days a week. Changing the boys' diapers and feeding them. Reading countless books to them. And, as they grew older, coming to their birthday parties and special activities.

Celia's second love was children in general and her students in particular. After graduating from the University of Michigan, she began her career as a special education teacher. In her 60s, Celia went back to school at the University of Maryland to earn her PhD and continued her career as a school psychologist. Celia, over many decades, taught students in Montgomery County public schools including Carderock Springs Elementary, Luxmanor Elementary, and Julius West Middle School. Although technically a part-time staff member, she put in a full-time level of hours. Celia would spend most evenings preparing her lesson plans or writing detailed, comprehensive reports about students' unique learning needs.

Celia had just recently celebrated her 86th birthday on December 1st when, two days later, she had a major stroke. Given the severity of the injury to her brain and guided by her advanced written medical directive, we turned to the extraordinary organization Montgomery Hospice and its Casey House for Celia's palliative care for what turned out to be the last week of her life. At Casey House, our family gathered around her. And, as she modeled for us, we were there for her and we sang to her and we loved her and we embraced her. Her memory is a blessing to us and we will keep alive her kindness and compassion for generations to come.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Celia toThe Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, P.O. Box 5014 Hagerstown, MD 21741.

Funeral for Celia Schuchman

Wednesday December 14 2022

11am Service

Tikvat Israel Congregation

2200 Baltimore Road

Rockville, MD 20851

(301) 762-7338

12:30pm Burial

Gan Hazikaron (Garden of Remembrance) Cemetery

14321 Comus Road

Clarksburg, MD 20871

(301) 428-3000

Shiva Information

Saturday December 17, 2022

7:30PM

Adat Shalom Congregation

7727 Persimmon Tree Lane

Bethesda, Maryland 20817