Anna Rachel Hairsine

April 1, 1947 – April 20, 2025

Unassuming, somewhat reserved and a bit shy, but with a marvelous sense of humor, Anna Rachel Hairsine (nee Eurich) passed away on April 20, 2025 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Rachel was born on April 1, 1947 to her loving parents, the late Jeanne K. Doenges (d. 2016) and William Eurich (d. 1958). Shortly after her 11th birthday, her father passed away from a major heart attack. Raised in the Towson area by her independent and devoted mother, Rachel graduated from Towson High School in 1965. After graduation, she moved to Washington, DC, where she honed her secretarial skills for several years. The 60’s were a turbulent time: protests, in the form of marches and songs abounded. One of the most iconic of those songs, “Eve of Destruction” by Barry McGuire, was an all-time favorite of Rachel’s. She returned to Baltimore and began working for the City of Baltimore in several divisions as a secretary and eventually retired from the City’s Alleys and Footways Division. While in Alleys and Footways, Rachel (and Howie) became good friends with her manager, Harry Snyder. They maintained their friendship after their retirements and spoke almost weekly up until her passing.

In 1978, Rachel married the love of her life, the late Howard J. Hairsine (d. 2007). With that, she received a whole new family and helped to raise the two youngest (of 4) children, Steven and Nada. Rachel and “Howie” enjoyed movies, backyard barbecues, trips and, most of all, music. From Benny Goodman to Engelbert Humperdinck to Johnny Rivers, Abba and country, they loved it all. And they loved to dance! Taking disco dance lessons at a local community center in the early 80’s, Rachel and Howie shared lots of laughs and great exercise – a good time was had by all. It was always fun to get Rachel out on the dance floor during parties or bull roasts – she claimed she had no rhythm, but she really danced well.

Rachel was very fond of travel. She and Howie made many trips to Florida (Disney World, Marco Island, Daytona Beach and Palm Coast) and Charleston, South Carolina. After Howie’s passing, Rachel continued to travel to Las Vegas to visit family and friends, on a cruise to Nova Scotia with the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH), to South Carolina to visit friends and to Guadalupe, Mexico during the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In Rachel’s own words, “I made up my mind to get a stamp in my passport!”

One of Rachel’s favorite places of all was the ocean. Ocean City, Atlantic City, Bethany Beach, Virginia Beach – swimming, sunbathing, walking the boardwalk, parasailing – how she loved it! Rachel was able to put her toes in the sand and her feet in the ocean one last time last summer. It was a spectacular moment!

One of the best trips ever was going to the Hawksbill Retreat Lodge just outside of Luray, VA in November 2024. Rachel, our matriarch, gathered with the family to celebrate granddaughter Paige’s 50th birthday and enjoy an early Thanksgiving. The weekend went by too fast, but the memory of it will last forever.

Rachel is survived by her loving stepchildren – Michele L. Dorsey, Dana K. Rohr, Steven C. Hairsine and his wife Ruth, and Nada E. Gender and her husband Charles; her cherished grandchildren – Paige Schisler and her husband Martin, Patricia Forstner, Virginia Sills, Maria Rosselle, Jason Gender and Jordan Gender; her precious great-grandchildren – Dylan Schisler and Kailey Schisler; and her dear great-great-grandson Taydon Schisler. Rachel also leaves to mourn her lifelong friend, Rachael Alexander Springer, dear friend Cindy Hutson, her “sister of the heart,” Shirley Kriewald Wilson and a host of family and friends.

We’d like you to know that, when Howie passed away in 2007, the neighbors in Rachel and Howie’s building rallied round her, offering support, comfort, and friendship and helping to provide the purpose and courage to keep moving.

See, Rachel? You ARE dearly loved and you will be missed more than you’ll ever know!

Family and friends are invited to gather at the Schimunek Funeral Home, 9705 Belair RD, Nottingham, MD 21236, on Friday, May 30, 2025, from 10-11 A.M., with a Memorial service to begin at 11 A.M. Inurnment to follow at Moreland Memorial Park Cemetery, 1601 Taylor Ave. Baltimore, MD 21234. All are invited to a luncheon following the burial at 1:00 PM at Columbus Gardens, 4301 Klosterman Ave. Nottingham, MD 21236.

In lieu of flowers, in Rachel's memory she would like to ask everyone to say a prayer and enjoy a nice meal with your loved ones.