Bernadine Kaufman

Bernadine Kaufman passed away on a peaceful, snowy afternoon, moving on towards the love and light waiting to welcome her.

A life-long Chicagoan, “Deena” grew up on Chicago’s East Side, a blue-collar neighborhood dominated by the steel industry and the Eastern European immigrants who came to work in the mills.

The daughter of Edward, a steel-mill worker, and Bernice Vukmirovich, Deena was the oldest of four siblings, and was very serious about her role as big sister. It was in her nature to care for others, and she did so unconditionally.

Deena took the passion and hard work ethic of the neighborhood and poured it into her love of the arts her entire life. While her daily demeanor took on a quiet and shy appearance, she helped steal the show in the performance of Arsenic and Old Lace and George Washington High School. This cemented a life-long love for the theater, passed on to her children and grandchildren, and endless viewings of Hamilton from the comfort of her home once released.

Then there were books. Lots and lots of books. A love of reading that would feed her dreamer tendencies and her likely excuse to major in English at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois.

Many might have expected her to stay safely in her role as an English teacher following college, but instead, she found her true success when a part-time job led her to the travel industry.

Deena began her career in the reservations center with Hyatt Hotels, working her way through the ranks to the executive level, before taking on a similar position with Preferred Hotels and Resorts, where she remained for more than 25 years.

Her determination to succeed, and unique ability to lead with heart, was the key to her success – and cemented her with a generation of women in the 1980s who became some of the first to crack that glass ceiling, once thought unbreakable.

Millions of successful career women today would not exist without women like Deena paving the way.

Her career also afforded her the opportunity to travel the entire globe, going to far ends of the Earth she never imagined she see with her own eyes unless on the pages of a book. Deena found time to visit her favorites again and again with her husband Dan – Italy, Hawaii and California Wine Country being at the top of the list.

Once home, she always returned to her most cherished role of all – taking care of her family and friends. Deena was a giver through and through. It fed her soul, and she fed you. Sometimes with a spoonful of tender compassion, sometimes with hard truth and grit, but never without one hundred percent of absolute love and affection.

Deena had a heart bigger than she was, and her undying love for her family and friends will be her legacy.

Bernadine Kaufman (nee Vukmirovich) was beloved wife of Daniel Kaufman, loving mother of Karyn (Timothy) Esbrook and Amanda (Ryan) Khalil, adoring grandmother to Layla, August, Bianca and Adriana, dear sister to Mary, John and Felicia, fond aunt to Kristin, and loving stepmother to Wendy, Kevin and Karen, and their families.

Visitation will take place on Monday, February 15, 2021 from 3:00 p.m. until time of funeral service at 7:30 p.m. at Cumberland Chapels 8300 W. Lawrence Ave. Norridge, Il. Interment will be private.

Due to the current health guidelines, we are limited to 50 attendees at a time. We kindly ask that you quickly exit the funeral home after paying your respects to the family so that all visitors have an opportunity to enter. Please wear masks and practice proper social distancing. Until further notice, the coffee room is not available for use. Please refrain from bringing food or beverage into the funeral home.