Babette Gessen Obituary (2008) - Overland Park, Kansas

Babette F. Gessen passed on Friday, May 30, 2008 at Village Shalom in Overland Park, Kansas. Graveside services will be held at 4:00pm on Sunday, June 1, 2008 at Rose Hill Cemetery, 6900 Troost Ave. Kansas City, MO. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Village Shalom, 5500 W. 123rd St., Overland Park, KS 66209. Babette was born on December 22, 1920 in Trinidad, Co, daughter of Fanny and Edward Freirich. Along with her brother Jerry, the family moved to New York, where Babette spent her youth. She attended Business School at Packard, after attending Edgewood Park College. She married David A. Gessen in 1944, and had two sons, Edward and Donald. The family moved to Kansas City in 1952, where she was a homemaker and travel agent for fifteen years. Babette was an officer and member of the board of directors of 1st Financial Corporation and enjoyed participating in a wide range of business activities. She was a member of B’nai Jehudah and the New Reform Temple. She was also a member of National Council of Jewish Women, a long time volunteer and a member of the Menorah Medical Center Auxiliary. She enjoyed being a member of Friends of the Arts. A long time resident of Mission Hills, she and Dave spent their winters in Palm Springs, CA. Babette’s hobbies included golfing, card playing, and world travel. She is survived by her son Donald and his wife Lisa Gessen of Prairie Village, KS, and her son Edward and his wife Ann Gessen of Pacific Palisades, CA. Her grandchildren are Brianne Gessen of Davis, CA, Chad Gessen of Pacific Palisades, CA, and Matthew Gessen of Prairie Village, KS, nephews Alan Freirich and David and Carol Freirich of Kansas City.