SARAH "STEFA" KUPFER

May 26, 1929 - November 4, 2020

FAMILY GRAVESIDE SERVICE: 12:30 PM FRIDAY 11/6/2020 at HEBREW MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERY A RECORDING OF THE FUNERAL SERVICE is available. PLEASE GO TO THE PHOTO AND VIDEO SECTION OF THIS WEBPAGE AND CLICK ON THE VIDEO. Age 91, of Oak Park, died November 4, 2020. A Holocaust Survivor. Beloved wife for 63 years to the late Henry Kupfer. Loving mother of Irene (Daniel) Biber, Bob (Dave Weir) Kupfer, Marilyn (Aaron) Kales. Adoring grandmother of Rebecca Biber, Gabriel (Nichole) Biber, Andrew Kales and Kara Kales. Treasured great-grandmother of Pearl Biber and Moses Biber. Cherished sister of Nina Sprecher. PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT STEFA'S LIFE. OFFICIATING: Rabbi Paul Yedwab INTERMENT: Hebrew Memorial Park Cemetery SHIVA: The family will observe Shiva privately CONTRIBUTIONS: If you would like to further honor the memory of SARAH KUPFER you may do so by making a contribution to: HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL CENTER 28123 Orchard Lake Rd. Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248-553-2400 www.holocaustcenter.org or JEWISH HOSPICE AND CHAPLAINCY NETWORK 6555 W. Maple Rd. West Bloomfield, MI 48322 248-592-2687 www.jewishhospice.com or Charity of Choice. Sarah Kupfer passed away peacefully on November 4, 2020, more than thirty years after her initial diagnosis of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Her children were by her side. Sarah was known as "Stefa" to all. Stefa survived the Holocaust in her native Poland as a Hidden Child, along with her dear mother Chaya Sprecher and cherished younger sister Nina. After liberation, she met her beloved husband Henry Kupfer in a Displaced Persons camp in Parsch, Austria, near Salzburg. They married in 1949, immigrated to Detroit in 1952 and celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary shortly before Henry's passing in 2012, at the age of 90. Together, Stefa and Henry maintained lifelong friendships with a network of other Jewish survivors in Detroit and dedicated themselves to keeping alive the memories of the six million lost. Stefa was a founding member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC, where her oral history video is shown to visitors at the end of their tours ( https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn504415). Locally, she met regularly with her Hidden Children's Group and, more recently, was a member of Facebook groups for Holocaust survivors. Stefa was a curious and outgoing person who maintained close relationships with cousins, in-laws, friends and neighbors alike. She doted on children and was known for her crocheted baby blanket gifts whenever a new child was born to a friend or relative. She also donated her time and needlework skills to making quilts for charity. She worked professionally as a part-time knit "finisher," adding beautiful details, like collars, buttons and edgings, to other people's projects. She loved to read and enjoyed meetings and lunches with her longstanding book club. Stefa maintained her independence all her life, driving and shopping and taking care of herself. She and Henry were faithful members of the Oak Park JCC Health Club; she even learned to swim after her sixtieth birthday. Stefa was a well-known and beloved figure in her neighborhood, where she had lived for almost 60 years.