Barbara Sachs, 84, of Sherman, Connecticut, passed away unexpectedly on June 29, 2025, in Danbury, Connecticut.
She was born in the Bronx on July 15, 1940, to the late Louis and Minnie (Wechselfeld) Bernstein, of blessed memory.
Barbara graduated from William Howard Taft High School in the Bronx, New York, in 1958. She had a love for English class and writing; her favorite book was “Anne of Green Gables,” where she would get drawn into the characters.
She met her future husband and love of her life, Marvin, while working in an optometrist’s office during her senior year of high school. Their romance flourished, and they were soon married on Sept. 12, 1959, at Temple Zion, Bronx, New York.
Barbara and Marvin eventually settled in North White Plains, New York, where they raised their two daughters, Debra and Lisa.
Barbara enjoyed playing mahjongg with her neighborhood friends and was involved in various bowling leagues with Marvin. Her love of crafting was evident by her frequently having a hook rug, embroidery, or crocheting project at hand and teaching those skills to her children.
She enjoyed taking family vacations, and, in later years, taking cruises with Marvin and lifelong friends, traveling to the Caribbean and the Panama Canal.
She was a homemaker and Room Mother when her children were growing up, and later worked at Seely Place Elementary, Scarsdale, New York, as an office aide; and as a Social Services examiner for Westchester County in Rye Brook, New York.
In 1989, she relocated to Overland Park, Kansas, when her husband was transferred by his company. Soon after moving, she worked as an office assistant in a law office and later gave up her job to move her mother from Brooklyn to Kansas, taking care of her full time. When Marvin was transferred again, they moved along with her mother to Florida, where they settled in Boynton Beach and reconnected with several childhood and Westchester friends. In 2021, Barbara and Marvin moved to Connecticut to live with their daughter and son-in-law and be close to family.
Barbara, like her mother, was always there for everyone and, in countless ways, put her own needs aside for the needs of others and never complained about it. She would extend herself and never consider it a sacrifice. She was there as a loyal and trusted friend, kind, loving and a devoted wife for 65 years, and a cherished mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her warm and welcoming smile and disposition were extended to family, friends and strangers alike.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Minnie Bernstein, as well as her sister, Eleanor Gelfand. She is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Marvin, of Sherman, Connecticut; her daughters Debra (Jeff) Martasin of Overland Park, Kansas; Lisa (Anthony) Grioli of Sherman, Connecticut; her granddaughters, Jessica (Thomas) Garofano of W. Cornwall, Connecticut; Alyssa (Michael) Normandin of Morris, Connecticut; and Laura Martasin of Lenexa, Kansas.
She was blessed to have six great-grandchildren whom she loved and adored and was able to spend the past few years getting to know: Thomas, Theo, Jolie and Janie Garofano; and Carter and Levi Normandin. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, and by the family dog, Sadie, who was the pet she always wanted but was never able to have.
A tribute to her life with a short service will be held on July 27 at the JCC in Sherman for family and friends to share stories and memories. Donations can be made to Hadassah or an organization of your choice.