Celebrating the life of Barbara "Bobbie Sue" Lavin

Barbara "Bobbie Sue" Lavin

June 2, 1962 - November 28, 2025

SERVICE INFORMATION

Date and Time

Friday, December 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM

Memorial Service

Chicago Jewish Funerals
Buffalo Grove Chapel
195 North Buffalo Grove Road
Buffalo Grove, Illinois 60089
Get Directions

Clergy

Rabbi Ari Margolis
Congregation Or Shalom

Interment - Private

Shiva

Chicago Jewish Funerals
195 North Buffalo Grove Road
Buffalo Grove, Illinois 60089
Get Directions
Following the service until 7PM

LIVESTREAM

The service will be livestreamed on Friday, December 12, 2025 at 02:00 PM Central Time.
LIVESTREAM

Memorial Contributions

Charity of choice

OBITUARY

Barbara “Bobbie Sue” Lavin, age 63.

Beloved wife of Michael Lavin. Dear mother of Amanda (David) Greenheck, Melissa Lavin, and Jennifer Lavin. Proud grandmother of Sadie. Cherished sister of Debbie (Larry) Gilhooly, Linda Joahimthal, the late Cathy Joahimthal, and the late Billy Joahimthal. Fond sister-in-law of Richard (Lynda) Lavin, Rhonda Tadelman, and Caryn (Henry) Kedzierski. Treasured aunt of Larry, Michael, Samantha, Carson, Mitchell, Mackenna, Haley, and Casey.

Barbara was a devoted wife and loving mother whose strength, intelligence, and warmth touched everyone who knew her. She dedicated 40 years of her life to the VA as the Chief Biomedical Engineer at several veterans' hospitals, including 34 years at the North Chicago VA Medical Center, where she mentored, trained, and inspired countless colleagues, many of whom remained in close contact with her throughout the years. Brilliant and an avid reader, Barbara combined sharp wit with a tough East Coast spirit. In her younger years, she was a competitive swimmer who competed at the national level. Friends and loved ones instinctively turned to her for advice and guidance, and she maintained deep friendships with many from her childhood, staying close even across great distances. She took immense pride in her daughters and granddaughter, celebrating their achievements with boundless love. Her legacy of wisdom, loyalty, and devotion to family will live on in all who were privileged to know her.

Memorial service Friday, December 12th, 2 PM at Chicago Jewish Funerals, 195 N. Buffalo Grove Road (One block north of Lake Cook Road), Buffalo Grove. Interment Private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of choice. To attend the funeral livestream, please visit our website. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals – Buffalo Grove Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com

GUEST BOOK

We encourage you to share your personal condolences and stories of Barbara "Bobbie Sue" Lavin below and we will share them with the family.

Bobbie Sue - my sweet sister- I will miss you dearly- all the laughs and conversations- no one can fill your shoes-

Linda Joahimthal

November 30, 2025

Developing a working relationship and eventual friendship with Barb while I was at the North Chicago VA was one of the highlights of my life. I remember how happy it made me to have "Fish Fridays" with Barb at the canteen. She was always witty and a matchless conversationalist. I will never meet another person like her, as long as I live. It was my honor and privilege to call her "friend".

Paul Lyman

November 30, 2025

My deepest condolences to all of you. I work at the VA in Iron Mountain, MI but have worked with Barb over the last 26 years. The obituary nails the Barb I remember throughout the years... kind, intelligent and a very quick wit. Over the years, she was always someone I could reach out to for help with any number of things. I am very saddened to hear this news, but will always remember this very special co-worker. Rest in Peace Barb... Kevin.

Kevin Fraker

December 1, 2025

There are so many words to describe my beautiful friend; genuine, brilliant, kind, generous, funny. But I’ve been trying to think of the one word that defines her best and it’s selfless. She has always been there for everyone at any time .
When I had happy news, I couldn’t wait to share it with her and she’d be happy . When I needed someone to listen, she’d listen and when I just needed a friend , we’d talk for hours and hours, about everything and nothing.

My most cherished gift is our friend group of six. How lucky we have been to have fifty plus years of friendship. We’ll still get together but it won’t be the same. We’ll still reminisce and tell our same old stories over and over again
and laugh …in honor of Barbara .

Janet Colloca

December 1, 2025

Barb contributions to the pharmacy IV room at FHCC were both significant and deeply appreciated. Though she did not work directly with in our pharmacy department her support was instrumental in the success of many of our initiatives. Thank you for all your help. Deepest condolences and prayers.

Sheeba Varughese

December 2, 2025

Barb and I worked together at the North Chicago VAMC. She was a great leader and supported both the organization and I with humor And passion. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to know and work with her. Condolences to the family.

Judy Finley

December 3, 2025

As a fellow VA biomedical engineer, I knew Barb for most of her 40-year career and worked closely with her for the 20 years I spent in the Chicago area. I always enjoyed our conversations. She was insightful, very witty, and clearly cared about her co-workers and the Veterans she served. She regularly shared about her family, so we got to know her as more than just a professional colleague. She made our regular GLOBE meetings and retreats more enjoyable. We retired around the same time; Barb was probably my longest-running VA friendship. She will be dearly missed by her VA family.

Jay Patterson