Karkomi, Shifra Of Chicago, passed away, after a very unexpected and brief battle with cancer, early Friday morning with her loving family by her side. Shifra's father, with foresight and intuition, immigrated with the family from Brezno, Poland to Eretz Yisrael in 1932. Her family became Israeli Pioneers, settled in Tel Aviv and worked to build a home in the Jewish homeland. Shifra's family stressed education and she grew to become a primary school teacher at the age of 19. In 1947 Shifra married the love of her life, Zev, and together they began a family as he fought for the country's independence. In 1958 Zev and Shifra immigrated to the United States and eventually settled in Chicago in 1960. Over the following years Shifra worked with her husband to grow the family to a place of prominence within the community. Upon arriving in Chicago, Shifra was the first to secure employment to support their young family and became a teacher in the Chicago Jewish Board of Education school system and continued in that capacity for the next 18 years. She was an avid tennis player in her early years and later became a prolific painter. Shifra and her husband never forgot their roots and were substantial supporters, amongst many others, of the Friends of the IDF, AIPAC, YisraeLink, The Illinois Holocaust Museum, and after the passing of Zev and in his honor, the Hibba Center for Soldiers in Jerusalem. Shifra had the unique ability to engage loving friends of all ages and was well-known for her culinary talents as well as her grace and class. Shifra lost her dear Zev after 62 years of marriage in 2009 and her beloved daughter, Vicki Karkomi in 2011, but still found the strength to continue to move forward, learn, enjoy life, and to be a positive force in the community. Shifra continued in this tradition as she proudly walked her grandson down the aisle on January 18th. Shifra was a devoted daughter to the late Itzchak and Dvora Melamed. Her legacy is carried on by her loving daughter, Suzie Karkomi (Judge Marvin Leavitt); and her cherished grandson, Ari Ryan (Rebecca). Service, Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. at Anshe Emet Synagogue, 3751 N. Broadway, Chicago. Interment to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery, 9900 Grosse Point Road, Skokie. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Friends of the IDF, 312-372-8500, The Illinois Holocaust Museum, 847-967-4821, AIPAC, 312-236-8550, YisraeLink Maccabim Hebrew School, 847-982-5465 or your preferred cancer related charitable organization. For info The Weinstein Funeral Home 847-256-5700.

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Published by Chicago Sun-Times on Mar. 11, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for Shifra Karkomi

Sponsored by Ari Ryan, Shifra's Loving and Devoted Grandson.

16 Entries

Ivy

March 5, 2023

What a beautiful life your mom led..just finished reading her obituary from 2014...thinking of you Susie

MITZI Launerts

March 7, 2022

The memory of Shifra will never fade, she was a very special and caring person.

Sandra Jordon

March 5, 2019

Shifra You will always live in my heart with the most fondest and loveing memories of you and Zev You are so Dearly Missed
Sandy Jordon

Mitzi/Fred Launerts/Rotstein

March 5, 2019

Shifra you live in our hearts with beautiful memories of the friendship we shared with you and Zev.
we think of you often and treasure the good times we had.

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John Yatczyshyn

October 27, 2014

I am so sorry to learn that Shifra had passed away. May her memory be eternal. My deepest sympathy to Susie and Marvin.

Mitzi Launerts

March 19, 2014

Susie & Ari my heartfelt condolences on this so sudden loss, as a friend of both Zev & Shifra I have many beautiful memories and great times both Fred & I have shared with them. I was so blessed for the way Shifra always treated me like family, I loved her, she was a very special Lady!

March 14, 2014

I am so sorry to hear that my art class friend passed. I loved her zest for life and painting. She was always so kind. She will be missed.
My sincere sympathy to the family.
Dee Davies

Rabbi Claire leading Rosh Hashanah services at Surprise Lake Camp

Rabbi Claire Ginsburg Goldstein

March 12, 2014

Dear Susan,
I can't thank your parents enough for what they did for my son Sam and me in 2007 when we were traveling in Israel. We were able to visit at the beautiful and well thought out recreation center that your parents built for the soldiers in Zev's family's memory. Sam and I returned the favor, in our way, when we went to plant fruit trees on the site to say thank you. Your parents were such role models for me. I will miss both of them. May their memories be for a blessing.

Sandy Jordon

March 12, 2014

Dear Susie, Ari and the rest of your Family, I am so Deeply saddened to hear of your loss. I will miss Shifra Dearly.She will always remain in my heart. My Deepest Sympathy to you and your Family. With Love, Sandy Jordon

March 11, 2014

Suzie,
May your mother live long in the hearts and memories of her beloved.
Our deepest sympathy to you and your family....
Ivy Speck & Bryan Lewis

Ximena (Mena) Reyna

March 11, 2014

Susie and Marvin, I am so sorry for your loss. I will always thank Shifra for being a great mentor to me and for showing me love for so many years. I will always thank her for loving me as one of her own. I will always thank her for believing in me. I will never forget visiting her after work from Marvin's office or from school. Words cannot describe how I feel. I will cherish every card Shifra and I ever exchanged and every advice she ever gave me about school, relationships, and life. I will miss her a lot.

-With love always,

Sandi Garfinkel

March 11, 2014

I am so sorry for your loss. I remember all the notes, phone calls, and how my mom, Lil, loved your mom. They met at Ellyn's sweet 16 and became instant friends.

Also, the Las Vegas trips with your parents.

Sandi Garfinkel

Debra Chandler

March 11, 2014

So sorry for your loss.

March 11, 2014

Dear Suzie and Marvin,

We are saddened to learn of your mother's death, Suzie. May being surrounded by caring family and friends help you during this difficult time.

Roz and Bob Wattel

Carla Zellman

March 11, 2014

Susan, Ari and the rest of the family. I'm so sorry for your loss. Shifra was a wonderful woman. I will remember her fondly.

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