Barbara Altman Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Barbara Altman Memorial Dear Visitors, in lieu of flowers, please donate in Barbara’s name to the National Osteoporosis Foundation at www.nof.org. Thank you from the Altman Family. What follows are reminiscences of Barbara’s loving and devoted family. Her children, in-laws, and grandchildren are represented in these pages. We will miss her greatly, and we know that she is resting safely at home with God for all the good and decent things she did in this world! Jimmy (Son) Mom’s main purpose and goal was to love, nurture, raise, and care for her three children, Cyntle bean, Donno, and Jimminou, as she lovingly monikerred them. That was an absolute in her life. Her morality and ethics as a person established a high bar for her children to emulate, but she lived it each and every day of her life. Never evidencing envy, jealously, hatred, denigration or disparagement of another person or group. Material objects never having much significance to her. Because of these attributes folks liked Mom. They were drawn to her humility, honesty and integrity. This was a light she always carried with her that illuminated her honorable and loving soul. Cynthia, Donald, and Jimmy, her children, loved her deeply, respected her greatly, and adored her monumentally. God is proud of her. Donald (Son) Mom brought many gifts into this world. She was always there for Jimmy and Cindy and myself, and she loved us all dearly. She also brought comfort and caring to all others she encountered. Her cheerful, kind and open spirit was shared freely, and it’s no surprise that people were drawn to her. No one’s life is without struggle, and Barbara had her share. But she demonstrated how life challenges do not have to determine and define one’s life. During my life, she passed along to me some very vital lessons, perhaps most important of all being the capacity to love. She shared many spiritual lessons, such as leading with kindness, being forgiving, being positive, and trusting in your creative spirit. And for the good times or the challenging times, I always knew I could count on her. When I struggled with depression in my early 20s, she found the right help and made sure I got well. Throughout my journey as a writer, she always encouraged and inspired me. Even when I went through a divorce as an adult, she shared her great well of hope, wisdom and encouragement. Her love and generosity for her children knew no bounds, and her children were proud to stand by her throughout her life. Thank you, God, for blessing this planet with one of your kindest, sweetest, caring and most loving of children. Cynthia (Daughter) I am the “baby” of the Family and Mom would often remind me of that. She would look at me with her incredibly warm, soft loving blue eyes that would melt into mine and tell me I was her “Baby Girl”. In that instant I felt like a little girl, even though I am considered a senior under the law. Her love for me was palpable and she expressed that same feeling to each one of her children and her grandchildren. It all came down to “Love”. She knew how important this love was to share with those that loved her in the same way. She touched so many lives. The one thing that everyone would say to me after they met her, was what an extraordinary person she was, that they had never met anyone like her. She was Kindness, Grace, Beauty and Genuine of Heart and Soul to anyone she ever met. She also had a playfulness and quick wit that brought endless smiles. Mom had such great joy expressing herself through her dancing, painting and poetry. Only a few weeks ago, she was painting again. Jimmy, Donny and I were able to share those precious moments with her as she smiled and joyfully put paint to paper. Debbie (Daughter-in-Law) Dearest Barbara, I had the privilege of calling you ‘mom.’ You always treated me as family, always welcoming and loving. You were the model of grace and beauty within and without. I feel fortunate to have known you. Your parting will forever leave an empty space in our lives. But I know you soar amongst the stars with the angels, now with a soul as pure as yours. I will always remember you. Love, Debbie. Paul (Son-in-Law) Dearest Nana, The first time I met you was the only time we had a very serious conversation. You asked me, “What are your intentions with my daughter?” I was surprised and impressed by your concern for Cynthia’s well-being and was flattered with your candor. I replied, “My intentions are to be respectful, honest and supportive no matter what happens with our relationship.” You faintly smiled and replied, “OK.” It turned out to be a positive start to a wonderful relationship. I was truly blessed to have you in my life. It was a privilege to see you and Cynthia as loving mother and daughter. It was a joy watching you be best friends. It was touching to experience that closeness, that nurturing. I will always be grateful for the gift of your daughter. The enormous joy you shared because of your impishness, rapier wit and endless sense of humor will forever be in my heart. I miss making each other laugh and playfully pantomime our humor. I will profoundly miss you but will find solace in knowing that you are in a better place! , שתנוח בשלום Your favorite son-in-law, Paul Maria (Daughter-in-Law) Although I met Barbara just twice in person, her beauty and kindness shined through each time and touched my heart deeply. Her soft gentle words and sweet presence over FaceTime were loving and encouraging as she always told Donald to take care of himself. Her love poured over. I know I married a wonderful man but after each visit with Barbara, I felt even more assured and blessed knowing she inspired my husband’s life. He embodies her love and compassion, and I am inspired to follow her way. Lindsay (Grand-daughter) My Nana was a very private person, so it was incredibly lucky that I was born into her family. She presented herself to the outside world in a fashionable preciseness and polite sweetness; and to me, she was also playful, creative and extremely loving. She let me sit with her during some of her personal moments. Nana hummed to herself as I sat next to her at the bathroom vanity watching her putting on creams, penciling in her eyebrows and daintily placing false eyelashes. She sang made-up songs to herself and to me and painted with watercolors on the patio, dancing her brush across the paper. She felt the colors. Then she tried to teach me to feel them as well. Nana played with me when I was little like she was little too -- we were wrapping paper girls at Bloomingdales, we were belly dancers putting on a show, we were intense card sharks playing "Pardon Me" (a game she made up in which we would throw face cards in the air and shout "Pardon Me!" and laugh). We were constantly singing and dancing in the living room, laughing at our silliness and relieved that we could both be exactly ourselves. She loved me so much that it now permeates time and space. Her touch itself was evidence of osmotic love. She stroked my arm as I fell asleep from a tiring day of shopping and frozen yogurt. She kissed the nape of my neck after a hot day at the pool. When we were older, I noticed her incredible love for my Poppy. She adored him in many ways and part of dressing up was for him. Nana also loved my mother fiercely; they both breathed such life and happiness into each other. After Poppy passed away and Nana moved to California, Nana became more forgetful, yet she always remembered and was excited to see her little Cint'l Bean. Nana inspires me every day to be myself, to take care of myself (i.e. to "be careful!") and to surround myself with the people I love. Nana was proud of me, and for that I am forever humbled. Marshall (Grandson) Barbara Altman, who I knew only as Nana, was a creative and kind person. My memories of her when I was young, and before my grandfather passed away, were going to Boca Raton Florida for the holidays. She would wake me with a very sing-song “good morning, good morning!” We would paint with water colors while sitting on their patio, watching the golfers on the manicured greens. Nana would give me and Lindsay little art tutorials and show us how to blend colors. Dinners were always a production, with her running around trying to plate everything at once. I would help her and Poppy with their computers, trying in vain to show her how to shop on the internet. Unfortunately, her memory and my grandfather’s life did not last—when Poppy died almost 10 years ago, she moved out to California to be close with her daughter. These times were hard. We saw her memory fade while her spirit and inner brightness nevertheless shown through. I would visit when I could, tell her about my life and always tell her how my much she was loved. She recognized me most times, and, when she did, her face would light up with a gigantic smile. She would almost sing “OoOoo” as I gave her a hug and said my hellos. When sitting with her and almost always my mom, Nana never failed to make the whole room laugh with her impeccable comedic timing. In her later years, Nana often thought of my mom as her mom. I cannot blame her for thinking that—my mom ways always there for Nana. And Nana meant the world to my mom; they would laugh and sing (I swear they had their own language), reminisce about my Mom’s childhood, and talk about family. It didn’t matter what was going on in the world, we all tried our best to make her happy. I miss you Nana, and hope you can be happy once again.

Barbara Altman

December 20, 2020