Yaffa Dahan

YAFFA DAHAN Yaffa Dahan, a woman whose spirit shined brightly to help all those around her, passed away July 26, 2007. Born Dec. 29, 1954, in Moracco, Yaffa was raised in a small town in Israel. She lived with nine brothers and sisters and was raised in a traditional Jewish culture where music, love and laughter were always present in the home. After marrying David Dahan in Israel at age 20, the couple then moved to Las Vegas, to start a family and a new chapter in their lives. Everyone who met Yaffa knew she was a spiritual woman with an amazing personality, grace, intelligence and a sincere love for her family, friends and the community. Dedicated to education, Yaffa was ambitious in pursuing educational opportunities and a career in nursing. With her second language being English, Yaffa garnered many notable achievements, including speaking five different languages – Hebrew, Yiddish, French, Arabic and English. Her educational journey led her to earn an MBA in business management and a Ph.D. in administrative healthcare. She became a registered nurse, which she practiced for more than 28 years. During this time, she also served as a legal nurse consultant. She was a member of the Honors Society in Nursing at UNLV, and recently was honored as an outstanding alumnai. Yaffa, who was very dedicated to her faith, was involved in the Jewish Community AIPAC, the Jewish Federation and Healthcare in Nevada. The last position she held was as CEO of the Mt. Charleston Hotel, where her vision was to create a wellness spa. Yaffa's passion for her education, career and caring for others was a remarkable quality that she enjoyed throughout her life. She was a wonderful, dedicated spirit who touched all those who crossed her path. She is survived by her loving husband, David Dahan; her daughters, Shana (Adam Kilbourn) Dahan and Michelle Dahan; father-in-law, Isaac Dahan; sister-in-law, Elaine (Jim) Watson, all of Las Vegas; brothers, Youssef, Jacquy and Shlomo; and sisters, Esther, Shula and Mimi, all of Israel. In honor of her memory, a Yaffa Nursing Education Foundation has been established at UNLV. Family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the foundation at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Box 451-006, Las Vegas, NV 89154-1006. Services to celebrate Yaffa's life are being held at 11 a.m. Sunday, July 29, at Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave., Las Vegas.