Tzivia J. Gaba (nee Pollack), 88, of Overland Park, Kan., died on Thursday, Feb. 19 at her home at The Atriums. Funeral services were held Feb. 22 at Louis Memorial Chapel followed by burial at Mt. Carmel Cemetery. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}The family suggests contributions to the Shifra & Joseph Gaba Memorial Fund at Congregation Beth Shalom, or to the charity of one’s choice.
Tziva grew up in the Bronx borough of New York City. She attended Hunter College. She met her husband-to-be, Joseph Gaba, a native of Kansas City, Mo., while both were training to be pioneers in Israel. They returned to Kansas City in 1949. Tzivia had a lifelong career as a teacher of Hebrew and Yiddish starting at the inception of the Beth Shalom Hebrew School, in 1962, then at the Kansas City Hebrew High School, and finally for many years as an instructor at University of Missouri-Kansas City.
She was an icon of the Kansas City Jewish community, active in a host of organizations.
After Joe’s disabling stroke at the age of 49, Tzivia was the rock of his recovery and they had a long and adventurous life together even after this shock. They were married for 51 years.
Tzivia was preceded in death by her daughter, Shifra Ruth Gaba, who died in 1967, by her husband Joe Gaba, who died in 1999, and by her brothers Samuel, David, Chaim and sister Lily. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Dr. David Gaba and Deanna Mann of Los Altos, Calif.; and by numerous nieces, nephews and friends in the United States and Israel and by their children and grandchildren, especially Jessica Rudnick-Kaseff.
Condolences may be shared at www.louismemorialchapel.com.
Arrangements by Louis Memorial Chapel, 816-361-5211.{/mprestriction}