Elizabeth Kaufman

Elizabeth Kaufman (nee Yanko) loving wife of Gerald J Kaufman, Sr (deceased) and devoted  mother to Gerald, Jr (deceased), Michael (Pamala), Deborah and cherished aunt to her nieces  and nephews.

Elizabeth was born in Cleveland the youngest of four siblings. She learned to speak and sing in  Slovak from parents who emigrated from Austria-Hungary, now Slovakia. Even during hard  times of the ’30’s and 40’s, she was known for her classy sense of style. Her early dream was  to be a fashion designer and she filled portfolios with her drawings of classic, functional, yet  elegant clothing. She was a practiced seamstress whose designs became reality.

She met Gerald at the Aragon Ballroom and they never stopped dancing. Together for 74  years, they built a home and a life that was filled with their creativity and ingenuity. Elizabeth  expressed her ardent love of color, texture, and symmetry in many modalities - sculpting,  jewelry, and interior decorating. Her sewing skills expanded to include custom items for her  home such as drapery, cushions, upholstery, and even canvas tents and awnings for their  homemade campers. She volunteered her talents creating beautiful flower arrangements to  adorn the altar of Assumption Church and for the Southwest Hospital gift shop. She was a  room mother, a girl scout leader and a cheerleader for each child’s passionate interests. She  was always involved in a project. Elizabeth had a strong sense of right and wrong and released  her inner tigress when she perceived a need for action!

Family was always first. Holidays, communions, confirmations, graduations, showers,  weddings and birthdays were celebrated and enjoyed with games, food and conversation. She  was famous for her strudel, turnovers, sugar, and anise cookies and rice pilaf.

A great joy for Elizabeth and Gerald was taking family camping trips which covered our nation  from coast to coast and into Canada. She loved “babbling brooks.” Other interests included  golf, square dancing, picnics, volleyball, swimming, and biking.

It seemed like a metaphor for life when Elizabeth explained the secret of flower arranging, “you  have to see the spaces between the flowers.”

Family suggests donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place,  Memphis, TN 38105 - https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html or to Ideastream  Media, 1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, 44115 - https://www.ideastream.org/donate-now

Family and friends are welcome to a Celebration of Life with refreshments  at the home of  Deborah Kaufman on Thursday, August 10, 2023 from 4-7 pm. Contact Deborah for details.

Inurnment for Gerald and Elizabeth will occur on October 11, 2023 at Ohio Western Reserve  National Cemetery in Rittman, OH. Contact Deborah for details.