Known as Anita to her family and friends, Janet Anita Kaufmann was born December 27, 1922 in Cleveland, Ohio to Mary Ross Newton and Charles E. Newton. Anita passed away peacefully on December 16, 2010 in Austin, surrounded with love by her Texas family.
She was predeceased by her parents Charles and Mary Ross Newton and her siblings Dorothy, Edward, Adeline and Jeanie. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 66 years Art and their 6 children; Leslie & husband Don (Monrovia, California), Heidi & husband Donald (Johnson City, New York), Jeff & wife Linda (Buda, Texas), Gary & wife Connie (Glendale, Arizona), Greg & wife Nancy (Austin, Texas) and Hilary & husband Craig (Buda, Texas), her grandchildren; Dana & husband Spencer, Erin, Rachel, Ryan, Crystal and Shanna, her great-grandchildren; Wiley, Sidney, Avalon, Bella and Marcus, as well as many dear nieces and nephews.
Anita and her husband shared a lifetime of love. Meeting at 14, she married Arthur Kaufmann on June 3, 1944.
Anita expressed herself through her quiet kindness, consideration, strength and courage, and in loving service to others. In addition to caring for her husband and their large family, Anita’s many interests included serving as a charter member of the Willoughby Hills Methodist Church in Ohio, and singing in their choir. Moving their family to Vestal, New York in 1962 as Arthur’s career advanced, they joined the Vestal United Methodist Church, where Anita served the community in many capacities. She lent her voice to the church choir, the Vestal Community Choir and the Binghamton Downtown Singers.? ?She served as a Friend of the Vestal Library, volunteered with Meals on Wheels for 30 years, and registered voters at the polls in many elections. An accomplished bridge player, she loved music, books and travel. Anita was blessed with a generous spirit and a wry wit. An excellent cook and baker, Anita shared her hospitality and culinary skills with family and many friends.
Anita and Art moved to sunny central Texas in 2007, where they were lovingly cared for by their devoted Texas family A celebration of Anita’s life will be held at the Buda United Methodist Church 310 B San Antonio St. , Buda, Texas 78610 on December 27, 2010 at 2:00 PM. For information contact the church at (512) 295-6981. A memorial service will be held at the Vestal United Methodist Church on January 8, 2011 in Vestal, New York. The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the caregivers at Barton Hills Lodge assisted living and Shade Tree personal care home, as well as to Hospice Austin for their care and many kindnesses to Anita and her family. Anita will be greatly missed and remembered with much love.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Hospice Austin, or to one of Anita’s favorite charities, the Humane Society.
