Rachel Alison Heiss
February 20, 1991 - September 9, 2023
Date and Time
Friday, September 15, 2023 at 10:00 AM
Service
Chicago Jewish Funerals
Buffalo Grove Chapel
195 North Buffalo Grove Road
Buffalo Grove, Illinois 60089
Get Directions
Clergy
Rabbi Karyn Kedar
Interment
Shalom Memorial Park
1700 West Rand Road
Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004
Get Directions
Memorial Contributions
Seattle Humane
13212 SE Eastgate Way
Bellevue, Washington 98005
www.seattlehumane.org
or
Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
225 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60611
www.luriechildrens.org
or
The Trevor Project
Attn: Development
PO Box 69232
West Hollywood, California 90069
www.thetrevorproject.org
or
National Park Foundation
1500 K Street NW, Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20005
www.nationalparks.org
OBITUARY
Rachel Alison Heiss, 32, passed away on Saturday, September 9, while hiking near one of her favorite places in the world, Mt. Rainier. Beloved daughter of Mark and Michelle (nee Bernatsky), sister of Steven and Lauren, granddaughter of the late William and Jacqueline Bernatsky and Selma and Jacob Heiss, niece of Susan and Bart Greenberg and Randi and Mark Macioce, cousin of Philip Greenberg (fiancé Sophia Stone), Emily and Cort Percer, Jonathan and Chantel Macioce, Madeline Greenberg, Avi Percer, Carter Macioce, and cherished friend to many people and dogs. Rachel grew up first in Buffalo Grove, a place she forever claimed as her hometown, and graduated with a degree in marketing communications from Ithaca College, where she received the Campus Life Award, was senior class president, and gave a witty, memorable commencement speech. Rachel was incredibly accomplished in her field, collecting many awards and admiration along the way. She worked for McCann New York, Boston Beer (Rookie of the Year), and in Seattle for Starbucks (Bravo Award), Nestlé, and most recently, Amazon, where she was a senior communications manager. In both her professional and personal lives, she was known as the "connector" for her ability to bring people together. Rachel loved sports, especially the Chicago Cubs. She rallied friends and colleagues to games (no matter the team or sport) in every city she lived in, and even played hooky with her twin brother and cousin to see the Cubs. Rachel loved the outdoors; she leaned on her growing network to help her build the hiking, camping, and snowshoeing skills that allowed her to delight in Seattle's gorgeous scenery year-round. Her beautiful smile, infectious laugh, and warm, happy demeanor lifted the spirits of all those who were touched by her presence. Rachel imprinted upon us the most beautiful of lessons: Find your passions. Find your people. Seek adventure.
"Take lots of pictures, write things down, and create memories. You won't regret this when you get older." Rachel Heiss/Ithaca College, 2013
Service Friday, 10:00 am at Chicago Jewish Funerals, 195 N. Buffalo Grove Road, (one block north of Lake Cook Rd.) Buffalo Grove. Interment Shalom Cemetery. To view the funeral online, please visit our website. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Seattle Humane, www.seattlehumane.org, Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, www.luriechildrens.org, The Trevor Project, www.thetrevorproject.org or National Park Foundation, www.nationalparks.org. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals – Buffalo Grove Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com