Elsa Diane Laufman

Elsa Diane Kleinman was born in Dallas, Texas on March 21, 1931. Her family moved to Houston when she was eight years old. She graduated from San Jacinto High School and then attended the University of Texas and the University of Houston.

In 1951, she married Nathan Laufman, whom she had known since she was around 10 years old. Nathan had just been commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy and was to be deployed to the Korean War immediately after their honeymoon. However, Nathan became ill with polio while they were on their honeymoon which left him paralyzed in both legs. Elsa lovingly nurtured him through his recovery and remained his devoted companion for the next 49 years. They lived in Galveston, Texas while Nathan attended medical school and then moved to Dallas and then Amarillo before moving to Houston in 1965 to be close to family and dear friends.

In addition to supporting her husband and raising four children, Elsa was active in the Beth Yeshurun Sisterhood and the Medical Auxiliary and was a lifetime member of Hadassah. She was quite social and loved to engage with people, young and old. She was also extremely artistic and produced beautiful needlepoints, stitched artwork and knitted goods. She led an effort at Beth Yeshurun Synagogue to create large needlepoint tapestries of bible scenes, which still hang in the reception hall.

One of Elsa’s many endearing traits was her love of animals, of virtually any kind. In addition to her numerous, beloved pet dogs and cats, she befriended almost any animal she encountered.

Elsa is survived by her four children, Karen Redden, Mark (Jana), Debbie Rothermel (Donald) and Robin; seven grandchildren, Amanda, Bailleux, Evan, Abraham, Nathaniel, Dylan and Rayna; and three great-grandchildren, Aiden, Olivia and James.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations in honor of Elsa be made to Jewish Family Services or Citizens for Animal Protection.

A Funeral Service will be held at Beth Yeshurun Cemetery Post Oak, 7445 Awty School Lane, Houston, TX 77055, on October 25, 2026, at 12:30 pm.