Barbara Gail Gordon's Obituary
Barbara Gail Gordon left her earthly body to be with her Jesus and her God on March 11, 2025, after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer, with her loving husband, devoted daughter and incredible members of the Vitas Hospice team by her side. This is exactly the way she wanted it, at home with her loved ones. As she let out her last breaths, a bird gave us a beautiful song, and she let go. In the words of her beloved Frank Sinatra, “I did it my way.”
Barbara was a fighter and a passionate woman, born in Brooklyn, New York in January 1942, a time of great transition in our country, a time that would shape her way of seeing the world. She would always look back to the 1950s, the decade she grew up, as a time of grand things in our country and our society. The music, the art, the progress made. She was a part of that, and that is how she raised her two children: to embrace the times, to work hard, to believe in themselves and to trust in her undying love for both of them.
Born to the late Daniel and Rose Block (Daniel a native New Yorker whose parents were British, and Rose who emigrated very young from Poland), Barbara got married for the first time very young to who would become the father of her children, Barry Adelstein. That marriage would last about 12 years, and then she met her second husband with whom they would make the life changing decision to move from New York to Richmond, Virginia, as times in New York City were becoming challenging in the 1970s. They both wanted to offer the children a different kind of opportunity. Both children would be eternally grateful for that decision to leave what she knew and try a new life in the South, which she had always had an affinity for. Barbara was a Civil War history buff, and loved all things that had to do with the South and its grandeur, despite the darker parts of its history.
While married to her second husband, Aaron Kessler, they both would work in the medical field as EMT’s, Barbara as a medical assistant, then she later worked for a well-known judge in Richmond, Virginia. But it was when her daughter was attending Virginia Commonwealth University that Barbara decided also to go to the same school to obtain her Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. Mom and daughter made great memories, meeting up on campus and spending time together. She had a passion for reading and teaching young children to read. She worked in that field for a few years, and then moved on to other ventures.
She met her third husband–the one who stuck–while working at a restaurant. They became fast friends, and it is John Gordon who she would spend the next 40 years with in love and marriage, living in Richmond, Virginia, spending many vacations in their beloved Nagshead, North Carolina, moving briefly to Lynchburg, Virginia to be closer to family, and finally coming to Palm Coast, Florida, to be close to daughter and granddaughter.
Barbara leaves behind a family who will forever carry her love in their hearts: her devoted husband of 40 years, John Gordon, her loving daughter, Hope L. Kessler, her treasured grandchildren, Félicia Tabouret Lingold (Michael Lingold), Carly Adelstein, Max Adelstein, and Holden Adelstein, and her best friend and lifelong companion, Barbara Sherdel. She also leaves behind a host of family and friends who were blessed to know her warmth, kindness, humor and unwavering support. Barbara touched many lives during the journey of her illness and she was very grateful to all of them, especially the nurses and social workers of the Vitas Hospice team.
Barbara again had a deep appreciation for history, especially the rich history and culture of France. She loved music and she adored dogs. An avid reader and advocate for literacy, she volunteered at the Flagler County Library, Main Branch, where she found joy and some purpose as her illness progressed and she knew where things were headed.
On that note, probably the most important journey of her life was her decision ten years ago to convert to Catholiscm, a religion she felt a deep connection to from the time she was a little girl, even though she was born into the Jewish religion. She dedicated herself to the classes and the whole process of becoming Catholic at St. Mary’s in Richmond, Virginia and met amazing people who still remember her today. This was a life changing decision for Barbara and her relationship with Jesus Christ helped her throughout the changes in her life and then once she received her terminal diagnosis. We know that when she left her body, she was holding Jesus’s hand and was finally at peace.
Barbara was preceded in death by her beloved son, Marc Adelstein, whose death she never truly got over; her adored granddaughter, Rachel Adelstein, and her cherished pet dogs Ginny, Dixie, Joy, and Grace.
In her own words, Barbara “was a mother and grandmother who did the best she could,” acknowledging that every family has its difficulties, but in the end, it is the love that counts and that lasts.
A Celebration of Life Funeral Mass will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church on Monday, March 31, the gathering will start at 10am and Mass to follow at 11am.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, the Palm Coast Fire Department, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, or the Flagler County Library, Main Branch.
Rest in peace, Barbara, my beautiful mother. Thank you for bringing Marc and I into this world, through whom came to be your amazing grandchildren. You will be dearly missed.
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