Rachel M. Schmidtke, nee Kawa, 70, born in Chicago. October 11, 1931, died May 2, 2002. Beloved daughter of the late Joseph and Genevieve “Jean” Kawa; dear sister of Jean (Tom) Yost and the late Stanley (the late Joyce) Kawa; loving mother of Mary (Ralph) Ketchum, Katherine Schmidtke (Craig Mize), Laura (Paul) Shepard and Teresa (David) Mason; fond stepmother of Norman (Barbara) Schmidtke; preceded in death by Henry Schmidtke; dear grandmother of Kolina, David, Amy, Tonia, Douglas, Valerie, Troy, Sabrina and Robin; fond aunt of many nieces and nephews; dear friend of Helen Magraw, May Malcolm, Connie Muse and Connie Larson. Rachel enjoyed living in Honolulu, Hawaii for 17 years, after leaving “her kind of town” Chicago. She relocated to Orange County, CA, after a brief return to Chicago, until her death at Kindred Hospital. Rachel was born with Spina Bifida and exceeded expectations in living an extraordinarily full life. She attended Spaulding School in Chicago and was active in many groups including the Apostolate of the Handicapped, Easter Seals Camp, The Rocket’s Club, the Spina Bifida Assoc., D.A.R.N. in Hawaii, Caucus Representative for the Mayor’s Office for Senior and Handicapped Citizens, The March of Dimes and as a volunteer dispatcher for the American Red Cross. Her Funeral Service was on May 7, at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Orange, CA, and on May 11 a Chapel Service was held at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines, IL. “May you walk 1,000 miles in Heaven, Grandma”. Memorials in her name to the Easter Seals Society are appreciated. “You did it your way”. ALOHA RACHEL!
