Barbara Welner
February 20, 2025

BARBARA WELNER: 98, survived the Holocaust to build a family and longtime residence in Pittsburgh. Smuggled out of the Lvov ghetto at age 12 by her doomed parents, Barbara spent over five years alone and on the run in the Ukraine, Poland, and Germany. She survived on instinct and God's providence, and after the war discovered an interest in nursing in a DP camp in Germany. She was transferred to England and there, went from a grade school war dropout to the valedictorian of her Wakefield nursing school class and the only winner of the top prize in three specialties in the school's history. Barbara moved to Canada before eventually marrying Nick Welner, himself a Holocaust survivor who became a civil engineer, and moving to Pittsburgh, where a cousin, Cantor Moshe Taube, resided. Barbara was active in Parkway Jewish Center and Hadassah, wrote op/eds on issues relating to Jewish interest and Israel, and with Nick raised four children who attended Hillel Academy - Alan, Sandra, Sarah, and Michael. Three of the children eventually earned M.D. degrees. Sandra became a pioneer in the gynecologic care of women with disabilities, including her assistance in formulating the ongoing program at Magee Women's Hospital. Michael is a nationally prominent forensic psychiatrist. Barbara maintained a nursing career of over forty years that included a lengthy stretch at East Suburban Health Center. In more recent years, Barbara volunteered in Israel teaching and mentoring Russian and Ethiopian immigrant children in Netanya.

Barbara is survived by Alan Welner, and by Michael and Orli Welner and three grandchildren.

Graveside Service and Interment will be held on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 11 AM at Betty Rosenberg/Parkway Jewish Cemetery. Services will be followed by Shiva at Monroeville Chabad, 2715 Mosside Boulevard, at 12:30 PM - 2 PM with Mincha at 1:30 PM. 

Donations in Barbara's memory should be made to GIOH Jerusalem, Colel Chabad, rehab for female soldiers at Sheba Hospital, or Keren Rachaim.

Arrangements entrusted to Ralph Schugar Chapel, Inc. www.schugar.com

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