Kenza Lee Schnur

Kenza Lee Schnur of Bel Air, California, passed away Saturday, July 8, 2017 (14 Tammuz 5776), at 23. Services will be held Wednesday, July 12, 2017, at 2pm, in the Groman Eden Chapel of Groman Eden Mortuary. Services will be officiated by Dr. Gary Dickey, and will conclude cryptside in Eden Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers and comfort gifts, please consider a donation in Kenza's memory to a charity. The family wishes to have donations made in Kenza's memory to The Refuge A Healing Place, 14835 SE 85th Street, Ocklawa, FL 32179. c/o Kristen Smith or Wags and Walks www.wagsandwalks.org/donate/.

Kenza is survived by her beloved parents, Soumaya and Robert Schnur, and her loving family. Soumaya and Robert have lost their treasured daughter; Kenza means "treasure." Kenza dedicated her life to loving and caring for all those she encountered, without judgment, just compassion. Kenza was never happier than when she was Being Of Service to those in need and those she loved. There is not a homeless person in Los Angeles that was not touched by Kenza. She could not pass by anyone in need without stopping to offer anything and everything she could. That compassion extended to animals, especially to the countless dogs she encountered and rescued. Her last rescue was to a non-kill shelter named Wags and Walks. Their contact information is above. Kenza was blessed with great artistic abilities, which were expressed in her photography and writing. She was filled with heart and love... she loved her parents beyond words, and they loved her back even more. The is no deeper love than Kenza, Soumaya and Robert shared for each other.

Arrangements under the direction of Groman Eden Mortuary, Mission Hills, CA.

The following is the eulogy given by Kenza's aunt, Lori Barbaria...

Kenza, from the day she was born was a force to be reckoned with. She was powerful in a way that touched people and made them better. Special people do that; they bring out the best in others.

On the plane coming here to stand with her parents, I was thinking of what to say about Kenza besides, "WTF!!! How could this happen?" I closed my eyes and asked her what she would want me to say and I heard one word loud and clear: FORGIVENESS.

I wanted to talk about her kindness, her love for dogs, and how when things were wrong or unfair, she would call it out. She fixed things and always forgave. No matter what was happening she always rose to the occasion and came around to find the higher road.

Sometimes she would get mad at me, we were a lot alike, strong women who would fight to get their way. So we butted heads, but there was never a time that she didn't let it go, forgive, and come back to love. We truly loved each other.

We all have our demons, the parts of ourselves we do battle with. It is not a matter of win or lose: it's a matter of if we can come back to LOVE in this lifetime. She did!

You have to have love in you to feel it and share it. Kenza had an overflowing heart full of it.

Soumaya was her hero, There was never a time where her love for her mother was ever in question. Soumaya was her strength, her guiding light, her anchor. And Robert was her Prince Charming because she taught him how to be that man. She taught him how to give no matter what and how to always remember that she was the Saint in his Temple. She was and always will be that Saint for both of them now and me too.

A saint is a teacher. She taught me so many important things, but mostly to keep believing in her, even in the times she didn't. She was worth believing in and when I asked her for a word and forgiveness came to mind, it felt right. I thought about this word, how it means reprieve, grace, and compassion, and I know she feels these things for herself because this is who she was beyond anything. She brought love to the table and served it to others. Her most recent texts to me were just total love bubbling over because this was her gift- she was charity in action.

I will never forget her infectious laughter and her dry sense of humor and how she brought this out in others. And as strong and powerful as she was, she was also sensitive and delicate, which made her an artist because she could tap into the soul of things. Her time was short here and she made her mark. She made people see beauty, feel happiness, and rise up to the best in themselves. And now she has risen up to embrace the best in herself, to feel complete, and truly recover herself. So on the plane when I asked her for a word and it was forgiveness, I knew she was sitting on a cloud of grace and there was no need for forgiveness any longer because she left a Trail of LOVE.

So yes, here we are in shock, in pain, and in grief for this loss, but Kenza would smile and say, "Remember the Love, because that's all that matters!"