Margarita Prudkova

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved family matriarch, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Margarita Prudkova on November 17, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. Margarita’s family and friends will remember her for her devotion to family, unwavering love, and ability to light up every room that she entered.

Born on July 15, 1935 in Ukraine, Margarita lived a life dedicated to her family, friends, and students. She was a survivor of Holocaust, together with her mother Sara Smulyanskaya.. She was a loving wife of Mark Prudkov, whom she vehemently supported in all his hopes and dreams. Together, they raised a loving family with daughter, Valerie Henkin, who will forever cherish her memory. Margarita felt that her biggest accomplishment in life was helping to raise her grandson, Stanislav Henkin. Margarita found so much joy every time she saw her great-grandchildren, Elliana and Levi Henkin, who will carry on her memory forever.

Margarita was a gifted French language professor. She attended University of Foreign Languages in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, where she obtained a degree in 1957. She taught French language in University and High School – but she was so much more than a teacher to her students – she was a role model and a confidant. She loved traveling to France with her students and teaching everyone about the French language and culture. Even more, she loved traveling the world with her family, especially Mark. She enjoyed reading books during her free time.

Margarita and her family immigrated to the United States in 1997, hoping for a better life for her family – her daughter has become one of the top piano teachers in Massachusetts, her son-in-law a successful computer software engineer, and her grandson a cardiovascular medicine physician. Her family dedicate their successes to Margarita.

Margarita is survived by her husband, Mark Prudkov; by her daughter, Valerie Henkin, and son-in law, Boris Henkin; by her grandson, Stanislav Henkin, daughter-in-law, Jessica Henkin, great-grandchildren, Elliana and Levi Henkin.

A funeral service will be held on November 21, 2024 at 11 AM at Stanetsky-Hymanson Memorial Chapel in Salem, MA; with burial to follow at Ahavath Achim Anshe Sfard Cemetery in Lynn, MA.