Renée Schwartz Hirsch

Renée Schwartz Hirsch, age 83, beloved wife of David Schwartz and the late Jay G. Hirsch; loving mother of Debbie (Mitch) Horwitz, David (Danit Steinbach) Hirsch, Lauren (Josh Thurman) Hirsch, and Susie Hirsch; stepmother to Jeremy (Shira) and Daniel (Lauren) Schwartz; adoring Grammy of Talia (Nate), Elana (Peter), Jonah, Ari, Ben, Gabriel, Micah, Ruthie, the late Maya Hirsch, Jacob, and Aaron; loving Mimi to Ayala, Elan, and Ayden; and delighted great grandmother to Remy, died peacefully at home on September 7, 2023 surrounded by her family.

Renée grew up in Brooklyn, NY and got a degree in elementary education from Brooklyn College. After meeting and marrying Jay after just six weeks, she moved to the Chicago area where she resided for the rest of her life. She raised her four children, worked as a parent-infant educator with babies with developmental disabilities, and was the lead design consultant on the original Sassy developmental toys. She was an avid tennis player, a talented cook and baker (famous for her challah!), a world traveler, a consummate storyteller and kibbitzer, an enthusiastic nurturer, a skilled needleworker and sculptor, a lover of plants and flowers, and a Chicago Botanic Garden volunteer. Full of curiosity and charisma, she savored every experience big and small, and people most of all. She faced many health challenges throughout her life, persevering with grace, positivity and resilience. Renée exuded warmth and love and had a unique way of connecting with everyone she met. She had a deep, meaningful relationship with everyone she knew, but especially her children and grandchildren. Of all her many achievements, she was most proud of her family.

Service Sunday 1PM at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, 1175 Sheridan Road in Highland Park. Interment Rosehill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Chicago Jewish Day School, 3730 North California Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60618, www.chicagojewishdayschool.org, or American Jewish World Service, 45 West 36th Street, New York, New York 10018, www.ajws.org, or North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, 1175 Sheridan Road, Highland Park, Illinois 60035, www.nssbethel.org.

To attend the funeral livestream, please visit our website.

Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com