Barbara (Goldstein) Safer

WORCESTER – Barbara (Goldstein) Safer, 81, of Chamberlain Parkway, died peacefully on Wednesday, December 4, 2013, under the loving care of her family and the staff at the Golden Living Center in Worcester after a brief illness. Born in the Bronx, Barbara was the daughter of William and Celia (Cohen) Goldstein and lived in Brooklyn until moving to Worcester at the age of nine.

Barbara graduated from Classical High School and worked as a dress model at various department stores in Worcester. She loved children and later in life assisted local parents by providing daycare in their homes.

In 1953, she married the love of her life, Nathan Safer, and together they raised their five children in the Lenox Square section of Worcester until Nathan’s untimely death in 1979. Although stricken with grief, Barbara embraced her family with love, and with the strong devotion to her faith, provided a beautiful life for her children. She enjoyed many summers spent at Old Orchard Beach with her family and close friends. Her children are thankful that Barbara was able to spend time in Maine this summer and visit all of the New England light houses with her son, Billy. Barbara was an original “fashionista.” She was known for her style and grace and the impeccable manner in which she dressed. She possessed a zest for life and was happiest when shopping at local department stores or cooking for her family at holiday gatherings. She was a deeply devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Barbara will be remembered as a nurturing mother with a wonderful sense of humor, a loving friend and for her simple and kind nature.

Her husband of 26 years, Nathan Safer died in 1979. She is survived and will be lovingly missed by her five children, William Safer with whom she lived, Alan Safer and his wife, Dawn of Worcester, Shelley Debitetto and her companion, Scott Wolferseder of Fitchburg, Gary Safer and his wife, Mara of Holden and Andrea Horne of Leominster; a sister, Marilyn Kephart of Worcester; five grandchildren, Nathan and Jake Debitetto, Noah, Ethan and Andrew Safer; her sister-in-law, Gladys “Goody” Safer of Stoughton; and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service for Barbara will be held at 12 noon on Friday, December 6, in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden, with the Rabbi Michael Swarttz officiating. Barbara will be tenderly laid to rest next to her beloved husband at the Worcester Chevra Kadisha Cemetery in Leicester. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to UMass Memorial Foundation, Pancreatic Cancer Research, 333 South St., Shrewsbury, MA 01545. To share a memory of Barbara or offer an online condolence, please click on the guestbook below.