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Sonia Kawa

Sonia Kawa

Sonia Kawa, who as a girl struggled to stay one step ahead of the Nazis in the Holocaust, passed away Aug. 3, 2019, in Miami, Fla. She was 92. Rabbi Yaakov Chaitovsky officiated at the graveside service at Mt. Nebo Cemetery. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.

“Sonia had a warm, outgoing personality and was graced with beauty and style,” her family said. “She was a loving and generous mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, wife, sister and daughter.

“One cannot imagine the trauma Sonia experienced as a child. Nevertheless, she managed to hold on to her bright, optimistic, life-affirming character.”

Sonia was 12 years old and living in Poland when WW II broke out. She endured unimaginable hardship and loss during the Holocaust, but managed to survive, as did most of her family.

She married Karl (Ykutiel) Kawa after the war. They lived in Netanya, Israel, for three years before coming to Denver in 1959.

The Kawas, who worked together in real estate, extended a generous hand to their community, including the BMH-BJ building fund and DU’s Holocaust Awareness Institute.

The couple was also active in the New Americans Club and held leadership positions at BMH-BJ under the late Rabbi Stanley Wagner.

Sonia belonged to Hadassah and ORT.

Mr. Kawa passed away in January, 1995.

After her husband’s death, Sonia continued her career as a businesswoman.

Sonia Kawa is survived by her daughters Penny (Shawn) Lustigman, Sara (Ian) Zucker and Tova Judy Kawa; grandchildren Ron and Michael (Lena) Lustigman, Brett Harris, Ezra “Eddie” (Jill) Zucker and Zachary (Eva) Zucker; great-grandchildren Sophia, Tyler and Levi Lustigman and Noach, Lyla, Maya, Shai, Ella and Moishe Zucker; and brothers Avram, David and Alex Levin.

Contributions may be made to Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) or Yeshiva Toras Chaim.




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