Norma Farber, 86, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away on May 29, 2023.
Called Mom, Bubbe, Ducky, Norm, Grandma, and Aunt Norma, Norma Farber was beloved by so many. She was a wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, grandmother, and dear friend to so many. Most recently, she lived in Tallgrass Creek in Overland Park for the last 15 years. As one of their first residents, Norma was instrumental in many programs at Tallgrass, most recently in holding monthly Torah study meetings and personally planning the annual Passover Seder for groups as large as 80 for many years.
Norma was born in Brooklyn, New York, never lost her New York edge, and was so proud of where she came from. Just recently, her care aide shared that she could tell when Norma was talking on the phone to her beloved brother Jerry because her New York accent came out stronger.
Norma studied at Brooklyn College and met her husband, Arnold Farber, while visiting the Catskill Mountains one summer. Arnold was from the Bronx, New York, and Norma’s father knew it was forever when Arnold continued to make the two-hour subway trip each way over and over again. They were married, moved to Westchester, New York, and bought their first home. They had four children (Steven, Robert, Debra, and Caralyn), many beloved pets (some more than others), and expanded their family and close friends everywhere they went. Through two houses in New Jersey, they then settled their New York family in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Norma was very involved in the Iowa State Parent Teacher Association, organizing the Friends of the Public Library, and the local Sons of Jacob Synagogue.
To Norma, family was an ever-growing thing. Much of Norma’s life revolved around taking care of her family, both those that lived in her home as well as her extended family and friends. There was always room at Norma’s table for people to pull up a chair, the food was always fantastic and plentiful, and everyone was welcome to join her as family. Norma supported her children to stretch to achieve their dreams, helping them start businesses and go to college. Norma demonstrated success at entrepreneurship herself by starting her nanny placement business, Heartland Nanny, which she was very proud of.
Norma was artistically gifted. Earlier in life, she painted, as did her husband Arnold. She loved doing needlework and accomplished countless beautiful pieces of needlepoint, crochets, knitting, and even learned crewel from Arnold’s mother, Helen Farber. Many of the family and friends have been presented with gifts over Norma’s lifetime of baby blankets, pillows, and wall art that have been created by Norma with enormous love, or “Bubbe love,” as the family often called it.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Judy Weinger; her husband, Arnold Farber; her son Steven Farber; and her sister-in-law Rhoda Hamburger. Survived by her brother, Jerold Weinger; children Robert Farber (Randy Primmer), Debra Davis (Scott Davis), and Caralyn Brace (Cole Mowry); grandchildren Mikayla Davis, Alexis Davis, Adara Mowry, and Erica Wood; and great-grandchildren Destiny Pickwick, David Moore, and Deven Moore.
Funeral services were held on June 1, 2023, in Florida.
