Singer, Rachel

Rachel Singer passed away on April 11th. She was born in Springfield, MA, to the late Harry and Lillian Smith. Rachel graduated from Tech High School and went on to UMASS. Rachel began teaching kindergarten in Deep River, CT in 1948. She then went on to teach in East Hartford, CT, for over 30 years. In those days, her AM and PM classes per session without aides could exceed 35 students. I joked that I had trouble trying to cover 30 minutes, and she did 30+years. I remember the classes she took to earn her master's degree. She was an exceptional teacher. Absolutely loved the spirited 5-year-olds. She enjoyed knitting, gardening, and shell collecting when she spent summers at Old Colony Beach, Old Lyme, CT. Rachel travelled the United States and the world. She often went to Israel to be with her sister. Rachel was very active in Temple Beth Shalom sisterhood, Hadassah, and B'nai Brith Women. Rachel was known as the 'Tree Lady' for JNF for over 30 years. Rachel was instrumental in bringing the Tay-Sachs carrier screening to the Jewish community east of the CT river in 1975. In the early 80s, she volunteered at the Jewish Nursing Home in Springfield, where her mother, Lillian, resided. Rachel (Nana) was the best babysitter for her only grandchild, Rayna. Taking her to farms, baking with her, and frequent trips to the Mary Cheney Library. She beamed when her greatgrandchildren, Luke & Zoey, visited. She loved the wet kisses from their large rescue dog, Gonzo. Rachel resided in Moodus, Hartford, and then, in 1958, moved to Manchester, CT. The last 4 years in Manchester, she was cared for by an amazing, caring aide, Ernestina Duah, from Angelic Home Care Agency. Other special caregivers were Karen Nowak, who happened to be one of her kindergarten students, and Diane Redekas, a good friend for more than 30 years. Rachel spent her last 4 months residing at Vernon Rehab. She was happy there. The staff loved and cared for her.

Rachel was predeceased by her second husband, Julius Singer, and her beloved siblings, Shirley Davis, Ethel Grant, Israel Smith, Flora Galipolitti, and Ruth Miller. She leaves her only daughter, Deborah Backman, her only grandchild, Rayna Ehrenfeld (Josh), and cherished great-grandchildren, Luke & Zoey Ehrenfeld and dog Gonzo. She will be missed by her many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Rachel's funeral will be graveside at the Jewish Aid Cemetery, Gillette Rd, in Colchester, at 1:00 PM on Sunday, April 14th, 2024. Shiva will be observed at her daughter's home. Memorial contributions can be made to the Jewish National Fund-USA Headquarters, 42 East 69th St. NYC, NY 10021 or Chabad East of the River, 25 Harris St. Glastonbury, CT 06033. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Blumenstein Funeral Home in Manchester. Please sign the online guestbook at www. blumensteinfuneralhome.com