Obituary of Rayann Schwartz

Important information when arriving at Fairmount Cemetery, it is necessary to enter from the Alameda Avenue entrance to arrive at the staging area at 12:45 p.m. Travel to the corner of Quebec and Alameda , go east on Alameda and you will see Fairmount Cemetery on your right. Make the first right turn into the cemetery and continue on that road until you see the line of cars parked. Get into line, and wait for the line of cars to proceed.

Rayann Schwartz (née Litvak), 81, lifelong Denverite, passed away on May 8th after a long battle with Dementia.

Born in Denver on October 8, 1944, to Lou Jake and Rose Litvak z”l, Rayann grew up on the west side of Denver alongside her older brother, Benny Litvak z”l. She cherished her memories of growing up on the west side and attending Colfax Elementary School. At age 12, her family moved to the east side of Denver, where she attended Hill Middle School, spent a short time at East High School, and graduated as part of the second graduating class of George Washington High School.

After graduating high school at just 17 years old, Rayann set off by herself on an adventure, beginning in New York City and continuing a cruise through the Caribbean Islands — one of her fondest memories she spoke about throughout her life. She briefly attended some college in Oklahoma before returning home to Denver to attend cosmetology school.

Rayann later moved to San Francisco, where she lived in a boarding house, worked doing nails at a hotel, and taught hair. She treasured those years deeply and often reminisced about her time there and her beloved friends Mary and Gene. She eventually returned to Denver after her mother became ill.

At a Jewish dance, she met Seymour “Buddy” Schwartz who would later become her husband, They married October 1,1967.  He worked many hours at the family-owned Schwartz supermarket in Brighton. Together they shared more than 50 years of marriage and started a family.  Rayann devoted herself to raising their two daughters, Terri and Stacie.

Rayann loved to read, needlepoint, and especially loved health and fitness, faithfully spending many hours at her favorite place, what she called “the club” swimming. She was outgoing, social, and made friends wherever she went. She loved people, and people loved her. Another one of her favorite things to do was shop. She was always shopping. She also loved dogs and often joked that she had raised many “grand-dogs” over the years.

More than anything, Rayann cherished being a grandmother to her beloved granddaughters, Alexandra and Emilia. Her family was her greatest joy.

Her last 7 years were marked by a difficult struggle with dementia and a failing body but even through those challenges, Rayann continued to defy the odds time and time again with her strength and resilience, even with the loss of her youngest daughter before her.

Rayann was preceded in death by her husband, Seymour “Buddy” Schwartz z”l; her daughter, Stacie Ann Jackson z”l; her parents, Lou Jake and Rose Litvak z”l; her brother, Benny Litvak z”l; and her grandson Taylor Jackson z”l.

She is survived by her eldest daughter, Terri (Richard) Moore; her granddaughters, Emilia Moore, Alexandra Jackson and son-in-law Matthew Jackson. Along with nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and grand-dogs.

Graveside, Tuesday May 12^th, 1pm, Fairmount Proper Cemetery. *Meeting at Staging Area : B at 12:45pm.  Livestream will be available via Feldman Mortuary’s YouTube channel. 

*Travel to the corner of Quebec and Alameda , go east on Alameda and you will see Fairmount Cemetery on your right. Make the first right turn into the cemetery and continue on that road until you see the line of cars parked. Get into line, and wait for the line of cars to proceed.*

Shiva will be held at the home of Terri Moore, on Tuesday 5/12 and Wednesday 5/13 from 5-8pm, with minyan service at 7pm.

Contributions to Alzheimer’s Association.

Her daughter Terri would like to share her "Mondays with Mom" YouTube channel, which people are welcome to check out and get to know Rayann even better.