Barbara E. Landau

Barbara Landau, aged 83, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at Agrace Hospice. She is survived by her husband Bart Landau, to whom she was married for 63 years, her children Russ (Susan) Shafer-Landau, Shari Landau (Jonathan Cohen), and Todd (Michelle) Landau, and grandchildren Max (Elissa), Sophie, Zoë, Jonah (Kim), Ellie, and Gaia (Mash).

Barbara was born in New York City, where she attended public schools and spent much of her time with her many cousins—her mother was the youngest of twelve, most of whom came through Ellis Island and settled in Brooklyn with their families. She enrolled in Queens College but soon left to be married to her husband Bart. He was then posted to Paris with the US Army, and she flew, eight months pregnant, to join him. Within a year she had given birth to her first two children, Russ and Shari; two years later, she gave birth to Todd, and had returned stateside to raise her children. She was a homemaker who spent 57 years in the Philadelphia suburbs before moving to Madison at the end of 2021.

Barbara was an avid reader and once her kids were teenagers she returned to school, receiving her Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree as a reading specialist from Temple University. She worked part-time in that field for several years, and joined her husband for a few years working in the family insurance firm. In later years she was able to indulge her passion for travel, accompanying Bart on several around-the-world cruises. She had a distinctive fashion sense and amassed quite a collection of clothes and jewelry that she enjoyed wearing during the months she was at sea.

Despite having a quiet demeanor Barbara was a very strong person. She was a five-time cancer survivor and lived for many years with several chronic ailments. For decades she devoted many hours to working on the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle, which she invariably managed to complete.

The family would like to offer special thanks to Drs. John McCartney, Alexis Eastman, and Jim Stein for their devoted care to Barbara, and to the staff at Agrace Hospice for their kindness and warmth during Barbara’s final days.

A graveside service will be held at Beit Olamim/Sunset Memorial Gardens, 7302 Mineral Point Rd. in Madison, on Friday, September 26, 2025 at 1pm. Shiva minyan will be held at the home of Russ and Susan Shafer-Landau. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Agrace Foundation.

Please share your memories of Barbara by posting in her guestbook.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

3610 Speedway Road Madison

(608) 238-3434