Anne G. Czuchna
November 30, -0001 – June 18, 2016
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 2, 2016 at 10:00 AM at Milwood United Methodist Church, 3919 Portage St., Kalamazoo, MI 49001. Private interment will take place next to her husband at Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park.
Obituary
Age 81, passed away gently in the arms of the Lord surrounded by family and friends, Saturday, June 18, 2016. She was a school teacher, world traveler and Bridge Life Master. As much love and pride she had for these things, the love for her family trumped it all. Anne taught for Kalamazoo Public Schools for more than 27 years. She earned her BA and Masters in Education from WMU and a Specialist degree from MSU. Education was extremely important to her and her students benefited from her passion. Anne and her husband Carl enjoyed their retirement traveling the world. Their adventures took them from Europe to Asia and the Middle East. After losing Carl in 2008, Anne continued to travel to Germany, Cuba and around the US. Anne and Carl were not only partners in life, but Bridge partners too. They traveled around the Midwest and southern U.S. playing in Bridge tournaments, where she eventually earned Life Master Bridge status. Family was fiercely important to her. Her five children allowed her to be a grandmother 17 times over. She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl G. Czuchna; son, Gregory Lilly and grandsons, Tyler and Charles Lilly. Survivors include her son, Dr. Bryan (Karen) Lilly, and their children, Meredith, Marc, Lauren and Alexis Lilly; daughter in-law, Susan Fitzgerald and her children, Mason and Hannah Lilly; daughter in-law, Becky Laney and her children, Tela and Trent Lilly and Dawson Laney; daughter, Anatolie (Peter) Kovacevich and their children, Joseph (Brittney) and Clara Kovacevich; son, Thomas (Kristine) Lilly and their children, Nicholas and Megan Lilly; daughter, Charlene (Kevin) Dwyer and their daughters, Lilly and Abby Dwyer. Anne bonded her family with travel and “Grandma Trips” creating a link between the cousins that is truly unbreakable. She took them to Spain, Paris, Niagara Falls and all across the U.S. She loved her friends and family so much and will be missed by all.
Anne was one of my teachers at Norrix in the 70’s. She changed my life in so many ways. It is still changing because of her. She was and always will be my favorite teacher. She will also have a very special place in my heart. The world is a little dimmer without her, but yet so much brighter because of her. I send my love and prayers to you all.
Anne was one of my teachers at Norrix in the 70’s. She changed my life in so many ways. It is still changing because of her. She was and always will be my favorite teacher. She will also have a very special place in my heart. The world is a little dimmer without her, but yet so much brighter because of her. I send my love and prayers to you all.
To Carl and Anne’s Family: Carl was my principal and it was through him, I was introduced to and learned to know Anne. I did the paperwork to have the gym at Milwood Elementary dedicated to Carl. We had a big function one night for the dedication and both Carl and Anne were very proud to have a building named after Carl. Not long after Carl’s death, I was teaching and in comes Anne and a close friend. I could tell that Anne had been crying but she wanted her friend to meet the person who made Carl’s memory live on at Milwood Elementary. She was as proud of that as Carl was! I was able to meet a lot of Carl and Anne’s family that night. It was to be the last function that one of our 6th grade teachers would attend because of a cancer diagnosis; Kelly Forth. A plaque was placed outside of our new gym in Carl’s name. I gave Carl and Anne a smaller version of the plaque so that Carl could always keep the memory of that night close to him. When Carl passed away I saw how difficult it was for Anne to move on. The day she came to Milwood really affected me and made my heart go out to her. The family will miss a very strong woman but apparently her influence will be passed on to her grandchildren. Nothing but good can come from her legacy to them. Prayers to your family. Know that both your father and mother left a mark on this teacher’s heart just because of who they were.
To Carl and Anne’s Family: Carl was my principal and it was through him, I was introduced to and learned to know Anne. I did the paperwork to have the gym at Milwood Elementary dedicated to Carl. We had a big function one night for the dedication and both Carl and Anne were very proud to have a building named after Carl. Not long after Carl’s death, I was teaching and in comes Anne and a close friend. I could tell that Anne had been crying but she wanted her friend to meet the person who made Carl’s memory live on at Milwood Elementary. She was as proud of that as Carl was! I was able to meet a lot of Carl and Anne’s family that night. It was to be the last function that one of our 6th grade teachers would attend because of a cancer diagnosis; Kelly Forth. A plaque was placed outside of our new gym in Carl’s name. I gave Carl and Anne a smaller version of the plaque so that Carl could always keep the memory of that night close to him. When Carl passed away I saw how difficult it was for Anne to move on. The day she came to Milwood really affected me and made my heart go out to her. The family will miss a very strong woman but apparently her influence will be passed on to her grandchildren. Nothing but good can come from her legacy to them. Prayers to your family. Know that both your father and mother left a mark on this teacher’s heart just because of who they were.
Anne’s Family: Our thoughts are with you. We have been with of you each through good times and not-as-good times for many decades. While recent years have had fewer interactions (mostly at memorial events) we have always felt special bonds with each of you. Please know she will be missed beyond measure and that Jane and I truly share in your loss.
Anne’s Family: Our thoughts are with you. We have been with of you each through good times and not-as-good times for many decades. While recent years have had fewer interactions (mostly at memorial events) we have always felt special bonds with each of you. Please know she will be missed beyond measure and that Jane and I truly share in your loss.