Obituary of Cara Goldfader

Cara Lee (Lesser) Goldfader, age 78, passed away unexpectedly on July 28, 2020, at her home in Laguna Woods, CA. Cara was born on February 12, 1942 to Louis and Rebecca (Drazin) Lesser, of Dorchester, MA. The family moved to Brookline, MA, in 1955, where Cara graduated from Brookline High School. Cara was a great student and very smart. After high school, she wanted to go to nursing school, but her parents wanted her to go to college. To compromise, she completed her studies at Brandeis University in 3 years, taking extra load and summer classes. After receiving her BA degree in History from Brandeis University in 1962, she graduated in 1965 from Beth Israel School of Nursing in Boston, MA. Cara met and married her husband Sidney shortly thereafter, and moved to his hometown of Worcester, MA to start a family. Despite the devastating early losses of her parents and sister, Cara went on to have 3 beautiful children and a meaningful family life of her own. Cara enjoyed a diverse and lengthy nursing career, and was devoted to the compassionate care of elderly patients. She completed her career as Director of Nurses for a long term care facility in central MA in 1997. After her husband died in 1997, Cara made the decision to leave Worcester and move to Southern CA, to be closer to her children and grandchildren. Cara lived in Laguna Woods, Ca for the last 20 years of her life. Cara was a lifelong learner and an avid reader. She had an inquisitive mind, and enjoyed discussions on politics, history, current affairs, and Israel. She loved the ocean, seashells, classical music and Hebrew liturgy. She was frequently found singing the Hebrew songs and melodies that filled her childhood home. She had the softest hands. She loved comedies and Walt Disney movies, and any Boston sports team. She valued human dignity, and always tried to help those less fortunate. She loved chocolate, and had a big sweet tooth. She had a deep Jewish soul, and a home filled with Judaica. Cara's cooking stood out for its many wonderful traditional Jewish dishes, especially her kugel, and for the occasional strange creations and sometimes spectacular culinary failures. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, and shared a special bond with her brother Elly. With a loving heart and spirit that will leave indelible memories in the lives and hearts of all she touched, she had the charming ability to be able to laugh at herself. She was a touchstone and anchor for her family, and her loss leaves a palpable space. Cara is survived by her beloved brother Eliyu Lesser, and sister-in-law Maxine Lesser of Deland, FL; her beloved daughter Rebecca Goldfader of San Francisco, CA; her beloved son Michael Goldfader and daughter-in-law Susan Goldfader of Los Angeles, CA; her beloved son Louis Noah Goldfader of Richardson, TX; and her three grandchildren: Brooke and Sloane Goldfader, of Los Angeles, CA; and Sidney Goldfader-Dufty, of San Francisco, CA. She is also survived by Bevan Dufty, Rebecca’s co-parent and Sidney Goldfader-Dufty’s father, as well as the many wonderful caring nieces, nephews and cousins, who were touched by her love and spirit. Cara was preceded in death by her husband, Sidney Goldfader; her parents Louis and Rebecca (Drazin) Lesser, and her sister Naomi Debba Lesser. Due to COVID 19, limited graveside services will be held on Sunday August 2, 2020 at Temple Beth El cemetery in West Roxbury, MA.