Obituary of Barbara Kaufman

Barbara Kaufman took her last breath on Thursday, September 12 at Nathan Adelson Hospice in Las Vegas. She was 78. She died with the grace and humor with which she lived. And she went on her own terms, giving her family instructions and kisses till just before she was taken to hospice on Wednesday. Barbara lit up any room she walked into. Her spirit was infectious, and her smile comforted all she met. She and her husband Bernie moved to Las Vegas in 1968. They immediately became active in the small Jewish community, as members of the only temple in town, Temple Beth Sholom. She was a member of Hadassah, and B'nai B'rith. She was also a past president of the Judy Bailey Cancer Society. And later in life, she became a part of the congregation at Midbar Kodesh. Barbara was a dancer and actor in her youth, and she instilled a love of theatre and dance in her daughter and granddaughters. She has been a frequent audience member at Las Vegas Academy the last two years, where her granddaughters are students. She loved sports, and was a life-long St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. And a Rebel basketball fan. One of her proudest moments was attending the 1990 NCAA championship in Denver. She rarely missed a game she was in town for, even as she got sicker. And we're sure Thomas and Mack Arena is decibels quieter when she's not there. In the last two years, she even learned to love hockey. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Bernard (Bernie) Kaufman, who still maintains he fell in love with her at first sight two years before they were married. She is also survived by her daughter, Carrie Kaufman, her son Andy Kaufman (Tamara), her grandchildren Dixon and Delaney Kaufman, her brothers Terry Raben (Barbara) and Daniel Raben (Marian), her "other daughter" Connie Dix, her nephews Neal, Sam and Tim, her niece Holly, her cousin Barry Eisen (Beverly), their children Steven, Robert and (her godson) Andy, her great friends Marcy and Jerry Welt, Rona and David Mendelson, Roger and Sandy Ewan, Malcolm and Lois Doctors, and Norm and Sheila Kaufman, and the Grisar family (Marc, Robyn, Kameron, Emma, Ethan, Michael, Andrew, David), which became a part of her family later in her life. She was pre-deceased by her father, Hymen (Hymie) Raben and her mother Harriett Raben, who died in 1996 and 1993, respectively. She had not pets, but she told Bernie before she died that he now can get his dog. Funeral services will be 2:30pm on Sunday, September 15 at Midbar Kodesh Temple, 1940 Paseo Verde Parkway, Henderson NV. (702) 454-4848. We will then drive to King David Cemetery before returning to Midbar for a meal of condolence. A Shiva minyan will take place, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at the family home at 7pm. Thanks to Kraft and Sussman for all the arrangements. Barbara was highly allergic to flowers. Memorial donations can be made to Midbar Kodesh Temple, the American Lung Association for COPD research, or The Alzheimers Disease Foundation. Please also remember her by listening to Barbara Streisand.