Rachel Levy
Rachel Morris Angel Levy was buried at the Seattle Sephardic Brotherhood on August 2, 2021.
Eulogy by Carmen Angel, August 2, 2021
A little bit about Aunt Rae:
Rachel Morris Angel was born in Seattle, Washington (the youngest daughter of Jewish immigrants, Moshe & Be hora Roza Angel on April 18, 1930. She was 91 years old this year. There were 12 children in the Angel family. Aunt Rae was the 2nd youngest child. She is survived by her younger brother, my dad, Albert Angel.
Rachel graduated from Garfield High school and later in life attended night school to complete her accounting degree. Rachel was employed as an executive secretary for the Sears & Roebucks company downtown. Throughout her life she was devoted to her Jewish religion and enjoyed many friends and relatives in the Sephardic Jewish community. She remained active in the Jewish community and a long standing member of Ezra Bessaroth Synagogue & Congregation Bikur Holim. She and Uncle Isaac were married there.
Aunt Rae met married Uncle Isaac late in life.
I should know the dates they were married since I accompanied Uncle Isaac & Aunt Rae to dinner for many years on their anniversary, however there marriage certificate is buried in a box somewhere in my garage. I think it was April 1986. Her birthday, Uncle Isaacs’s birthday & their anniversary were all in the same month. It was easy to celebrate all three! Do any of you remember how beautiful Aunt Rae looked on her wedding day? She was beaming. I remember how happy she was. I remember how happy everyone was for her.
Aunt Rae was a patient, kind, a loving supportive sister, devoted daughter, wife, and wonderful aunt. She was a good friend & neighbor. Family meant everything to Aunt Rae.
For many of us, we considered her the matriarch of the Angel family. She was always ready with a smile. As Ricky said to me “she was the peacemaker in the family”.
After they married, Uncle Isaac & Aunt Rae lived in an apartment in the Seward Park area for a while. They cared for Isaac’s mom, Rachel for a few years prior to her passing. Something similar to Aunt Rae caring for gramma Roza many years ago.
Uncle Isaac & Aunt Rae purchased there condo on Mercer Island and settled into a peaceful life. Aunt Rae had recently completed here accounting degree; night school at University of Washington and at the time was working for Key Bank. Uncle Isaac had retired from the US postal service. As you probably remember, Uncle Isaac & Aunt Rae travel extensively. They enjoyed there cruises all over the world. The Mediterranean, Rhodes, Australia, New Zealand, etc. They also enjoyed many, many car trips and enjoyed camping & hiking with friends.
Uncle Isaac & Aunt Rae were Snowbirds for several years in Arizona. They enjoyed swimming, the sunny weather, friends, my dad & Mitzi lived there, so they were able to spend a lot of time together. Her sister Bella came to visit. My aunt Bea & Aunt Rae were very close.
My kids & I spent a fair amount of time with Uncle Isaac & Aunt Rae. They were fun to be with. Every year we enjoyed walking through the tulip fields in La Conner. Sunday breakfast at House of Pancakes, she always ordered strawberry waffles. Am I correct Rick & Robin!
Every year we went to the Puyallup fair, Aunt Rae & Uncle Isaac enjoyed seeing all the farm animals. Aunt Rae attended almost every birthday party, holiday celebration, school functions, swimming, soccer, musicals, shows, BBQ’s , Oktober fest in Leavenworth, vacations on the Oregon coast. They always enjoyed doing stuff with their nieces & nephews & kids in general.
Did you know she was an avid Sports fan? Go Seahawks, Go Huskies! Go Gonzaga Zags! She loved college basketball & watching the Olympics on TV. We looked forward to getting together every Sunday to cheer for the Seattle Seahawks.
When Uncle Isaac eventually moved to the Kline Galland home, Aunt Rae visited him every day except for Saturday, when she went to synagogue. She & Uncle Isaac were members of the Bikur Holim Congregation. As I said, she & Uncle Isaac were unified & devoted in there Jewish faith. Isaac & Rae would patiently explain many Jewish traditions to my kids & me. We especially enjoyed lighting the candles on the Menorah every year.
Aunt Rae enjoyed traveling. In 2015 Aunt Rae & I traveled to Italy, wow what a trip. It was a wonderful experience we shared. We visited several Jewish communities, historic synagogues & World War II exhibits. During this trip I learned much about the Sephardic Jewish faith & European Jewish history. She also shared with me stories of hers parents, aunts, uncles, cousins in her early life. Trials & tribulations. In 2018 she went to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico with several nieces & nephews. When we all went on a small boat ride to “Lands’ End” beach the waves were choppy, so a boat crew member hoisted Aunt Rae on his shoulders, like a fireman & walked her to shore. She enjoyed that trip immensely.
In the last few years Aunt Rae’s health declined & she moved from her Mercer Island home to a retirement community up north, then a few months ago, Aunt Rae made the decision to move to the Kline Galland home where she felt well cared for, content & at home amongst her people.
Aunt Rae worked for Sears & roebucks & received a discount she would tell us kids to look in the catalog & pick out what we wanted for a gift. Aunt Rae was fragile for herself but very generous & giving to others.
Do You Remember?
Bowling Aunt Rae was on a bowling league. She & her sister Bea played on several teams. How many of you went bowling with her? Was she any good?
How many of you remember our yearly vacation to Soap Lake? How many summers did we spend going to Soap lake. I know the Angel family & much of the Jewish community went there even before I was born. Soap Lake was like the Mediterranean Sea, very salty! Do you remember the Indian Powwow celebrations? We stayed in cabins at Grabbers Court & Aunt Rae would walk us kids into town for ice cream treat at A&W. DO you remember the big umbrellas Aunt Rae brought to the beach everyday so we could have shade? She would put big rocks against the poles to hold the umbrellas in place when the wind kicked-up later in the afternoon. We BBQ’d every night, played games. Do you remember the mud? There were tons of other friends & families there!
How about all the holidays, weddings & Passover celebrations our family celebrated? There was always a truckload of people? The cooking, cleaning, arguing if we have enough food? Oui vy. Do you remember arguing over who got to read which parts of the Torah?
Do you remember the Jewish Avathaheim picnics we enjoyed at Lake Wilderness & Cottage Lake? It was like a BIG extended family. Aunt Rae made sure everyone came to enjoy & give thanks!
Those were all the good times we spent with our family, close friends & extended family. Aunt Rae was an integral part of all these memories, events. The common theme was her love for her family, the Jewish community, her faith.
God bless you Aunt Rae, you will be missed.