In Memory of

Barbara

Ellen

Lefcourt

(Morn)

Obituary for Barbara Ellen Lefcourt (Morn)

LEFCOURT, BARBARA ELLEN (nee Morn)

With deep sadness, we announce the passing of Barbara Ellen Lefcourt on Tuesday, February 28, 2017, in her 82nd year. She was surrounded by loved ones during her final days while under the compassionate care of the many staff and volunteers at Innisfree House, Kitchener. Barbara is predeceased by her husband of 53 years, Dr. Herbert Michael Lefcourt, parents Lillian and Joseph Morn of Brooklyn, New York, and her sister, Suzanne Sosa, also of Brooklyn. She is the loving mother of Mike (Laurie), Jack (Mika) and Rachel (Brian) and cherished partner of Richard Lapointe. She will be greatly missed by her grandchildren, Cameron, Miranda, Lucas, Isaac and Callum.

Barbara earned degrees from Barnard College, Columbia University, and Yeshiva University in the United States, and moved to Kitchener-Waterloo with her young family in 1963. Barbara acted as a role model for her children, demonstrating her love of learning through pursuing a biology degree in midlife, sharing her passion for adult literacy by tutoring with local organizations, and demonstrating that one is never too old to explore and pursue a dream. During her professional life, she was a teacher of literacy and adult education with the Waterloo Region District School Board, and, nearing retirement, started writing poetry, and has been published many times over. Barbara was proud to be a member of the Cambridge Writers Collective and The Ontario Poetry Society, and found inspiration during summers on Manitoulin Island and on her travels to Australia and Japan when she visited family there.

As Barbara was a founding and long-time active member of the Grand River Unitarian Congregation (previously, the First Unitarian Congregation of Waterloo), a celebration of her life will take place at the congregation’s home, 299 Sydney Street South, Kitchener, on Tuesday, March 7 at 10:00 am. A morning tea reception will follow. Private cremation has taken place. As expressions of sympathy, donations to Innisfree House in support of their important role in end of life care, or to the Grand River Unitarian Congregation in support of their new immigrant sponsorship efforts would be greatly appreciated by the family and in keeping with the values that Barbara held true to throughout her life. Arrangements for this may be made through the Henry Walser Funeral Home, 507 Frederick St. Kitchener, 519-749-8467. (www.henrywalser.com).