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She was born Oct. 27, 1915, in Montello, Mass., to Lithuanian immigrants, her mother, Elzbieta and father, Jurgis. Along with brothers Alexius, George and Joseph, and sister, Olga, the Rachun family moved to Kent Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
She single-handedly supported the family through the Depression with her candy store and bathtub alcohol speakeasy. She worked days, most of every paycheck helping put her brother Al through medical school while attending Brooklyn College herself at night, then on to earn her graduate degree in education from Columbia University. Soon after marriage, her husband, Edwin, saw World War II combat. She worked as secretary to the Tarrytown schools superintendent. She was an excellent gardener.
She nursed her mother, husband, sister, Olga, and brother, Joe, through their dying days. To be near her last living sibling, Al, and her lifelong pal, Al’s wife, Addie, she moved to Ithaca, N.Y. She enrolled in classes in German and Spanish and, in her 80s, joined the Lifelong Improv Troupe. She took any writing workshops offered and turned out dozens of stories based on her memories. Two of these were published in “Lithuanian Heritage,” the leading English language publication about Lithuanians. At 85, she finally took a trip to Lithuania, reconnected with her cultural home, and revealed that she had never lost her youthful fluency in the language. At 95, with increasing difficulty climbing stairs, she moved to an apartment at Longview in Ithaca.
She is survived by her daughter, Alix Beeney, and her husband, Craig, in Interlaken, N.Y.; daughter-in-law, Lois Schneeberg; two sisters-in-law; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren with two more coming in the next few months; and 10 nieces and nephews.
Her son, Dr. Ed Schneeberg predeceased her.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 23, at 11 a.m. at Longview, 1 Bella Vista Drive, Ithaca. All friends are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, a remembrance to Lifelong (memo: Improv Troupe), 119 W. Court St, Ithaca, NY 14850 would be appreciated.
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