104 | MAY 20 • 2021
J
oshua Mark Hurand,
48, died peacefully at
his home in Tucson,
Ariz., on May 6, 2021,
surrounded by loved ones.
He was a beloved
husband, father, friend,
teacher, writer, gardener,
advocate, connector,
Tucson enthusiast and
grateful human.
Born in Lansing on April
15, 1973, to Gary and
Carol Hurand, Joshua was
the first grandchild of both
his paternal and maternal
families. He graduated
from Carman-Ainsworth
High School in 1991 and
earned a bachelor of arts
degree in education at the
University of Michigan,
a master of educational
psychology degree at the
University of Arizona and
a master of social work
degree from Arizona State
University.
Mr. Hurand worked as
a middle school Spanish
teacher and then a
psychotherapist at the
Southern Arizona Veterans
Administration Healthcare
System prior to fulfilling
his dream of establishing
a private therapy practice
called Strategic Healing.
Professionally, he positively
impacted and helped
hundreds of students,
clients, friends and family.
Throughout his life,
Josh had a dynamic
presence and was often
referred to as “the ultimate
people connector.”
He embraced life and
relationships
with passion,
commitment,
enthusiasm,
energy and
love. He was
an inspiration
to those who
knew and loved him, and
he openly shared his love
and gratitude even as he
endured the pains of his
terminal cancer diagnosis.
Josh embraced his
Tucson community and
was proud of the life he
established there. He
served on numerous
boards of agencies and
organizations, most
recently the boards of
the University of Arizona
Poetry Center Foundation
and the Jewish Community
Foundation of Southern
Arizona.
Mr. Hurand is survived
by Ashley (McLaren), the
love of his life whom he
married on Nov. 8, 2014.
He is also survived by
their beloved children,
Noah Avram, 5, and Eliza
Barbara, 3.
Also left to cherish his
memory are his parents,
Gary and Carol; adored
sister, Sara (Elie Weiss);
nephews, Eitan and Jonah
Weiss, grandmother, Gloria
Levine; father-in-law, Mark
McLaren; brother-in-law,
Jon McLaren; sister-in-law,
Kirsten McLaren; aunts
and uncles, Lynne, Robert
(Katchen Schibilsky),
David (Martha Salyers),
Sally, Jeffrey (Barbara)
Hurand, Trudy Weiss
(Arthur) and Harriet
Lewis; loving cousins,
Aaron Weiss (Maureen
Sullivan), Rachel Weiss
Berger (Rabbi Benjamin),
Leah Weiss (Alex Cohen),
Annie Mandelkern
(Kenny), Deborah Fixell
(Ethan), Shoshana, Gates
(Megan Campisi), Miles,
Clay, Ashley, Jennifer,
Reyna, Jordan Spain, and
Nicola Reeves (Tom); many
close friends and extended
family members. May his
memory be a blessing.
He was preceded in
death by his beloved
grandparents, Arthur and
Bess Hurand, and Eugene
Levine.
A charitable contribution
may be made to the
Hurand Connection
Fund at the Jewish
Community Foundation
of Southern Arizona, the
National Prostate Cancer
Foundation, the University
of Arizona Poetry Center
or a charitable organization
of your choice.
A private graveside
service was held at
Machpelah Cemetery
in Flint and a recording
can be viewed and
tributes shared at
sharpfuneralhomes.com.
An additional memorial
service was also held in
Tucson. Arrangements
by Sharp Funeral Homes,
Miller Road Chapel, 8138
Miller Road, Swartz Creek,
MI 48473.
A Real People Person
OBITUARIES
OF BLESSED MEMORY
continued from page 102
master’s degree in clinical
social work at Simmons
College (now Simmons
University) in Boston, Mass.
Esther and Stan settled in
Detroit, where they raised
Susan and Daniel.
As a social worker, Esther
worked primarily with
children in public schools
and in private practice. Since
her retirement, many parents
have communicated, to Dan
and Susan, about how their
children’s lives were vastly
improved from having had
Esther as their counselor/
social worker.
Esther was greatly fulfilled
knowing she made a
difference for the betterment
of the lives of her patients.
After retirement, she
continued doing good deeds
for the kids and animals. She
volunteered in several public
schools in Tucson, Ariz., as
a children’s tutor; one of her
favorite activities was being
a docent at the Detroit Zoo,
where she especially loved
working in the butterfly
garden.
Esther and Stanley were
world travelers. Holiday
gatherings often featured a
slide show of their many trips
across the globe.
Mrs. Kirschner is survived
by her two children, Susan
and Daniel (Zehra); and her
granddaughter, Leyla.
She was the beloved wife for
58 years of the late Professor
Stanley Kirschner.
Services and a family
gathering will be held post
C-19 pandemic. Contributions
may be made to Detroit
Zoological Society, 8450 W.
10 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI
48067. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.
Joshua
Hurand