Anita Joyce Coburn

The Coburn family sadly announces the passing of Anita Joyce (Schenk) Coburn on December 13, 2014 after a year-long battle with lung cancer, and they thank all of those who offered comfort and support during this difficult time.

Anita was born in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of the late Louis and Esther (Suss) Schenk. She graduated college with a teaching degree from Chicago’s Roosevelt University, got married to Kenneth Coburn of Malden, MA, and moved to Massachusetts all in the same week in 1959. She was the manager of North Shore Community College’s Beverly, Danvers, and Lynn bookstores for twenty-five years, and also did the bookkeeping for Coburn Auto from the 1960s until 2014. Additionally, she was among the first members of Temple Beth Shalom, and remained part of the congregation for the rest of her life.

A voracious reader, Anita devoured mystery and suspense novels faster than the West Branch library could get them for her. She also was a gifted knitter and a skilled bridge player, and was well known for her wonderful summer pool parties and barbeques and for making her delicious noodle kugel. Her greatest pleasure was spending time with those she loved, especially her grandchildren, her brothers and their families, and her best friends in Chicago and Peabody. She was known by those closest to her for her hard work, generosity, brilliant mind, and commitment to family.

Anita is survived by Kenneth Coburn, her husband of 55 years; her daughters Robin McMahon of Lynn, MA, and Jodi Coburn and her husband Steven Blumenkrantz of Peabody, MA; her granddaughters and pride and joy, Lindsay and Haley Blumenkrantz and Melissa McMahon, all of Peabody; and her brothers Alan Schenk of Detroit, MI and Gerald Schenk of Chicago, IL. She was also a beloved sister-in-law, aunt, great aunt, and cousin to many.

Services at Temple Beth Shalom, 489 Lowell Street, Peabody, MA on Tuesday at 10:00AM. Interment following at Temple Beth Shalom Memorial Park, Danvers. Memorial Observance following the burial at the home of Jodi Coburn and Steven Blumenkrantz until 8PM and continuing on Wednesday and Thursday from 4-8PM. Following tradition and in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Temple Beth Shalom.