Obituary of Virginia Haberman Sendor

Virginia Frances Haberman Sendor died peacefully on April 24, 2023, at age 96. Born in New York City on August 31, 1926, Virginia was proud to be a Bronx girl – and never lost that Bronx energy, calling up that special vigor and feistiness to the end. Long enthusiastic about learning and education, she received her BA degree in English from Hunter College and had two Master’s degrees – one in Special Education & Rehabilitation Counseling, from Hunter College, the other in Public Administration, from C.W. Post/Long Island University. She also had completed her course work there for her PhD. These were remarkable achievements for someone who suffered profound hearing loss and ensuing isolation from her early childhood on. It was the deaths of her mother Daisee and brother Richard that began her commitment to death and bereavement counseling. This naturally led Virginia down a path of an impassioned focus on the importance of hospice, palliative care and comprehensive, thoughtful approaches to end-of-life care. In 1984, she founded the L.I. Foundation for Hospice Care and Research Inc., and became a leader in bringing the hospice movement to Long Island. When she published her book “Hospice and Palliative Care: Questions and Answers” in 1997, she was a Hospice and Geriatric Consultant and Advocate, and Chair of the Palliative and Hospice Care Institute for Education, Research and Care (a division of the American Institute of Life-Threatening Illness and Loss, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center). She was additionally fervent about cerebral palsy awareness – having been the Director of four Nassau County Telethons in the 1960s – as well as hospice support for people living with AIDS. Virginia married Bernard Sendor in August 1952, and they raised their two children, Marian Jill and Jonathan Barry, in Westbury, Long Island. Together, she and Bernie were very active in their community and were among the founding members of the Westbury Neighborhood Association. They were also known for their impressive ballroom dancing. Beyond her passion for end-of-life care, Virginia was a long-time Transcendental Meditation practitioner (a TM-Sidha!) and a political obsessive and activist. Up until the pandemic she loved attending meetings at the Stamford Chapter of WOW (Women on Watch). She was an animal lover and a voracious reader and was well-known for her goodbyes – expecting kisses on both cheeks and enjoying a good fist bump. Her energy remained infectious and powerful right to the end. Her joy of being around people saw her making a grand entrance[PM1] , whether with her walker or in her wheelchair, at every doctor’s appointment and at Treetops Chamber Music Society concerts, entertaining all who were around her. Virginia’s family brought her much light and joy. She is survived by her daughter Jill Sendor-Laychak (Douglas), son Jonathan, grandchildren Morgan, Maxwell and Douglas (Ashley), great grandson Jake, sister-in-law Kay, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Bernie, her parents Benjamin and Daisee Haberman, and her brothers Richard (Kay) and Daniel (Barbara Nissman). Virginia was larger than life and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Silver Source, Ferguson Library, or a hospice or palliative care organization of your choice.