Obituary: Marla Kay Schwartz

Marla Kay Schwartz (née Kay) passed away surrounded by her cherished family. She is preceded in death by her parents, Dorothy Kay Samuels (née Deutsch), and Ernest D. Kay, as well as her sister, Linda Tirnauer (née Kay). Marla graduated from Cleveland Heights High School in 1965 and pursued her passion for education and fine arts, earning a BS in Education with a minor in Fine Arts from Kent State University.

Marla dedicated her career to teaching art, impacting students of all ages from kindergarten through adulthood in various school systems including Cleveland, Euclid, Maple Heights, and Cleveland Heights-University Heights. In her later years, she transitioned to an artisan business, utilizing the trapunto method to craft fabric products. Marla showcased her creations at mall shows across Michigan, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, and Northern Kentucky, earning the endearing moniker “The Pillow Lady” through her brand, Pillows Plus by Marla.

Marla’s legacy lives on through her loving husband of 49 years, Edward (Eddie – Stevie), her daughter Johanna (Craig) Kaiser, her son Jacob (Lindsay Duncan) Schwartz, and her beloved grandchildren, Eden and Jesse Kaiser. Funeral arrangements are being handled in Atlanta by Dressler’s and in Cleveland by Berkowitz-Kumin.

The funeral service was on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023, graveside at Bet Olam in Beachwood, Ohio, within the Park Synagogue section at 10:30 in the morning.

In remembrance of Marla’s vibrant spirit and commitment to causes close to her heart, in lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory are welcomed with suggested donations to ALEPH, the Rose and Lawrence Schwartz Holocaust Education Fund (750 White Pond Drive, Akron, Ohio 44320), Park Synagogue (Cantor Pisman Fund), B’nai Torah (Cantor Fund), or to Cure HHT. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

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