Funeral Details

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

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.
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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
December 3, 2025
Barb
Amazing lady, I told Chris Bryant , Barb's coworker what a wonderful strong leader she was. Four hospitals used to be the top clinical engineering biomed in Chicagoland area she ran one of them.

Thank you Barb for all your career devotion to a safer environment

Kevin mcdermott
December 5, 2025
Mike & girls…I honestly can’t believe the major loss of Barb nor what I know you are & have been going through…
Mike, you know how much you both mean to me & if you ever want to talk, please use my e-mail or phone # on this message anytime…

Barbara was & always will be a bright shining light that will always be with each & every one of us!! We were all so blessed to have been her friends!!

She will be missed so terribly much.
You & the girls are in our heart’s & in our prayers…as is Barb…

Rita Fletcher
December 8, 2025
Bobbie Sue…i am sure you are not surprised that it took me so long to actually be able to write some words without being clouded by the tears. How do I put I into words what you meant to me you were everything my medical guru my shrink , my person to recap every day . You were always the person to calm me when I got a little crazy . I am so blessed to have had the many years we had together and trust me my friend you will be a part of everything that the girls and I do that will never change . You will always be on our minds and in our hearts . Friends forever …

Deborah Cruz
December 8, 2025
To the family of Barbra Lavin. My heart truly aches for your lost. Such a special person I had the privilege to work with and for will truly be missed by many. Barb was one of kind and yes so kind and nonjudgmental. Always a spirit lifter but yet firm when needed. To Mike and the girls & grand kids sorry is so weak but I’m certain you and most will celebrate the “good times” had. with lots of great memories I will never forget the witty sense of humor and laughter. So you all take care. PEACE and LOVE ALWAYS.

Diego Vega
December 9, 2025
What a blessing it was to have known Barb. She was a phenomenal mentor ‐ a true guide and a source of profound inspiration in my life. The impact Barb had on me and shaping who I am as a person is immeasurable. ​

I will always remember her support, steady encouragement, and the way she always made time for me, even when she was busy. I will miss our conversations and her fantastic sense of humor most of all.

I consider myself incredibly lucky to have had Barb as a sounding board, a teacher, and a friend. I will forever cherish the time we had together and the memories we shared.

Thank you, Barb, for everything.

Katrina Jacobs
December 11, 2025