Susan Reck-Mahfood

RECK-MAHFOOD: Susan Reck-Mahfood lived her 81 years with a rare and unmistakable grace, moving gently through the world and leaving love wherever she went. There are women whose beauty is something one sees, and there are women whose beauty becomes something one feels. Susan embodied both. Soft, elegant, feminine and deeply kind, she had a way of making people feel cared for. She understood the beauty of small gestures, the sacredness of attention and the quiet power of making another person feel seen. On Aug. 29, 2026, Susan passed from this life surrounded by the love she had spent a lifetime giving. Born to Bertha and Salven Reck, Susan was a beloved sister to Wayne, Burton Ronald, the late Jeffery, Harold and Michelle. A beloved wife to Samuel. She was a mother to Jaqueline, Celeste (Kevin) and George (Valerie); a cherished grandmother to Marcus, Alex, Brandon, Brittany and Juliet; and a beloved aunt and great-aunt and friend. At the heart of Susan’s life was her daughter, Jaqueline. Their bond was one that only a mother and daughter can fully know, shaped across a lifetime by tenderness, history and a love uniquely their own. Motherhood lived deeply within Susan, and Jaqueline was one of the great loves and defining relationships of her life. Her beloved husband, Samuel Mahfood, was the love of Susan’s life. Theirs was a love of companionship, tenderness and deep belonging, built through the years and through the quiet intimacy of knowing and being known. With Samuel, Susan found home in another person. He was her lovey, in life and in death. Children held an especially tender place in Susan’s heart. She delighted in their innocence, imagination and natural capacity for wonder. She taught yoga to children and brought puppets, play and gentleness into their world. Perhaps she understood children so beautifully because some essential part of Susan remained open to wonder too. In her earlier decades, Susan’s natural elegance found expression in fashion and beauty. She worked as a model and merchandise buyer, and later in hospitality, makeup artistry and consulting, education, and the teaching of poise and social graces. As her life unfolded, her attention turned increasingly toward the inner world. Susan became a Reiki Master, yoga teacher, breathwork practitioner, healer and light worker. She was quietly devoted to healing and to bringing greater peace, connection and consciousness into the lives of others. She was drawn to tarot and numerology, crystals and angels, nature and the mysteries of spirit, while holding close the history, traditions and ceremonies of her Jewish heritage. Susan seemed to understand intuitively that some of the most meaningful parts of being human cannot be seen. They can only be felt. She gave angel medallions to those she loved. She loved gardenias, the sea and warm sand, old movies, crystals and giraffes, beautiful penmanship, thoughtful cards, mahjong with the girls and family game nights. She loved tea and green juice, her beloved car Iris, and the quiet elegance of wearing white. And there was always room for a sneaky late-night chocolate Kiss. Through all the chapters of Susan’s 81 years ran one golden thread: She gave love. She gave it to her family, to the children she cherished, to those she taught, and to those who came into her care. Through healing, presence, tenderness and an abiding belief in the goodness and possibility within people, Susan devoted much of her life to helping others feel more whole, more connected and more deeply seen. Her impact cannot be measured simply by what she accomplished, but by what she awakened in others. She brought softness where it was needed, healing where it was possible, and love wherever she could. Hers was a life lived with an open heart, and the world was made gentler by her presence in it. Susan gave love. And in doing so, she reminded us what a beautiful life can be. Now, in the meantime, take a deep breath, smile, and don’t forget to celebrate life. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in honor of Susan and her lifelong love of children. Services honoring Susan’s life will be held at Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. 5509 Centre Avenue, Shadyside, on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, at 10 a.m. Visitation one hour prior. A private family graveside service will follow at 11 a.m. at Beth Shalom Cemetery, Susan’s final resting place. schugar.com PJC