Barbara Ciuffa

Barbara Ciuffa dedicated her life to helping people in need, especially children. She was an attorney, child advocate, and Child Welfare Specialist certified through the NACC. She was known to bring some of the children to her self-defense classes to gain skills. She volunteered in several community projects such as the Literacy Council and the Late Night Show, reading bedtime stories to children in Kalamazoo's Juvenile Detention Center. She also volunteered for Election Day activities to help people get registered to vote and helped at the polls. She loved music and treasured her time in various choirs such as the Gospel Choir and the Kalamazoo Community Chorale. She enjoyed attending the Thursday Morning Musicale and the annual Gilmore Festival (as a volunteer and enthusiastic member of the audience). Born in Brooklyn NY, Barbara spent the past 30 years in Kalamazoo, which she loved for the community spirit and culture. She enjoyed meeting people and hearing their stories, and was known for her spunk. She was an avid traveler, going with her husband to Russia on a cultural exchange program, and to El Salvador to meet people involved in Clean Water for the World. She went with her daughter to China on a tour for lawyers, and to the Galapagos. She loved to learn about all different subjects. Barbara was initially a physicist at the National Bureau of Standards, then became a teacher, and eventually an attorney. Barbara was predeceased by her husband in 2016 and her son in 1982. She is survived by her daughter. Donations may be made in her honor to The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research:https://www.michaeljfox.org or to any charity supporting efforts to help abused/neglected children, such as the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children: https://www.memberleap.com/members/wish/donate.php?org_id=APSA. Barbara Ciuffa dedicated her life to helping people in need, especially children. She was an attorney, child advocate, and Child Welfare Specialist certified through the NACC. She was known to bring some of the children to her self-defense classes to gain skills. She volunteered in several community projects such as the Literacy Council and the Late Night Show, reading bedtime stories to children in Kalamazoo's Juvenile Detention Center. She also volunteered for Election Day activities to help people get registered to vote and helped at the polls. She loved music and treasured her time in various choirs such as the Gospel Choir and the Kalamazoo Community Chorale. She enjoyed attending the Thursday Morning Musicale and the annual Gilmore Festival (as a volunteer and enthusiastic member of the audience). Born in Brooklyn NY, Barbara spent the past 30 years in Kalamazoo, which she loved for the community spirit and culture. She enjoyed meeting people and hearing their stories, and was known for her spunk. She was an avid traveler, going with her husband to Russia on a cultural exchange program, and to El Salvador to meet people involved in Clean Water for the World. She went with her daughter to China on a tour for lawyers, and to the Galapagos. She loved to learn about all different subjects. Barbara was initially a physicist at the National Bureau of Standards, then became a teacher, and eventually an attorney. Barbara was predeceased by her husband in 2016 and her son in 1982. She is survived by her daughter. Donations may be made in her honor to The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research:https://www.michaeljfox.org or to any charity supporting efforts to help abused/neglected children, such as the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children: https://www.member leap.com/members/wish/donate.php?org_id=APSA. Per request of the family, a cremation has been held. Arrangements entrusted to: harperfuneral.com