Eulogy for Devora by Rabbi David and Barbara Radinsky

When Boussy was born, I (Uncle David) was in NY at YU. I met grandma in NY when Boussy was about one week old, went up to Boston by bus. She was a beautiful baby and we were sure that she would grow into wonderful person. Over the years her personality and sensitivity to others made her a special niece and a lovely person. The next summer I saw her in Seattle and on occasion even helped take care of her. From 1959-1963, I would see her in the summers in Seattle as she became the big sister to Dena and Eli. When the family moved to Lafayette, we were able to see her even more frequently. On November 24,1964 she came with her parents and siblings to participate in our wedding , wearing her beautiful blue dress and gold sandals, walking down the aisle as a flower girl with Dena on Nov 26. Although she was 5 years old, she impressed everyone with her maturity and desire to help set the table. When we were living in Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo, we would travel to Lafayette and she and her family also came to visit us in Ft. Leonard Wood. Boussy was one of her father's star pupils in Lafayette and helped her father teach bar Mitzvah boys when she was about 10 years old. She was always very pleasant wanting to please everyone.

She was a great big cousin to our children, willing to play with them, sleep on the floor with them, and take them on the rides at the amusement park. When we moved to Charleston and your family moved to Houston, we continued our family visits. One time when she came to Charleston to a friend's wedding, she had placed her prized jewels in what she thought was a very safe place on a counter top in the play room. Little did she realize that one of her little cousins would climb up and twist the jewelry into knots and cause some frustration until the jewelry was repaired. We learned very quickly about putting things up very high and very far away from little people who could climb into all kinds of places.

Even though we were geographically apart, we felt very close to Boussy. She would phone us, especially on birthdays and on Mother's Day. We would laugh together and she would find all kinds of funny stories to recount. She would also share her ideas and concerns about more serious issues that different people faced.

We were always proud of her educational achievements and her amazing ability to make Judaism relevant and exciting to her family and students.

When Boussy and Mark married, we were so excited about this new milestone. Then when we were expecting Chani and she was pregnant with Tzvi, we moved into a new stage of life together. The aunt and uncle and niece and nephew became more like the same generation. I think that the experience of the rabbinate was also something that brought us closer.

We always loved spending time with our Boussy. In fact, in the summer of 2007 we were so happy that we would be spending time together in Seattle for a family simcha. The day before we were planning to leave for Seattle, Boussy called us to tell us that she had just received her confirmation of the diagnosis of cancer. She was going to Seattle in spite of the diagnosis. We spent almost every minute together. Perhaps we thought we could help protect her and temporarily take her mind off her worries. We walked downtown, sat by the water and talked and talked and talked some more. She was so optimistic. We climbed Mt. Rainier together and she seemed strong. She loved being outdoors in the gorgeous mountains with the broad vistas and felt great.

Boussy has always been a source of strength, a source of inspiration, a common sense kind of person who could see a big picture. She did not like conflict, did not like when people were mean to others. She was respectful and expected others to be respectfUl and courteous. Boussy could be playfUl and serious, nurturing and principled, determined and flexible.

We will always remember her as a remarkable person. She was a terrific mother and Wife, daughter, sister, and granddaughter. She was a trusted friend, teacher and mentor to so many. To us she was a delightful niece. We will forever remember her with smiles on our faces and tears in our eyes.

Love, auntie Barbara and Uncle David
October 14, 2009
27 Tishrai 5770