Adria Light

1952 - 2025

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Adria Marie Light, age 73 on Sunday, August 31, 2025. Adria departed this life at home in Coconut Creek, Fla. after a six year battle with metastatic breast cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family and passed peacefully. She will be missed every day.

Adria was born March 6, 1952 in Jersey City, NJ to Matilda (Kaufmann) and Hugh Masterson. They resided in North Bergen, NJ where she spent her early life. Adria and her family resided in different parts of New Jersey, 32 years in Linwood and Ventnor NJ, before moving to Florida in 2017.

Adria's life was one of spirit and service. As a teenager she volunteered as a candystriper at Hudson County Hospital and became a registered nurse. As a volunteer she helped single women in need at Princeton Hospital through labor and delivery, often in the middle of the night. Adria co-facilitated the Green Circle Program in Linwood middle school, teaching inclusion.

Professionally Adria was Director of the Healing Center at Jewish Family Service of Atlantic/Cape May Counties in Margate. There she created a Healing Service which she conducted at facilities throughout the area. She also created a volunteer Jewish hospice program. Several volunteers were involved but she would personally attend the dying assisting them in their final moments. She also brought in The Birthing Project, a program to assist single women in need through pregnancy, birth and beyond.

Subsequently, Adria served as Program Manager at Gilda's Club South Jersey in Linwood. There she created programs, and led groups dealing with cancer. Of special meaning was the dragon boat, in which she joyfully paddled for many years. The dragon boat team is composed of men and women who have been touched by cancer, survivors and caregivers alike.

Additionally Adria was a Reiki Master, AFT practitioner, and Practitioner of Prepare for Surgery all aimed at helping people.

Adria had a gift- she could connect with people and they responded. She engaged with people with intention, with understanding, without judgment. And they invariably came away better for the experience.

Adria was deeply grounded in her faith. She was bat mitzvah at Congregation Adas Emuno in Hoboken. For over 30 years Adria and her family were active members of Congregation Beth Israel in Northfield where Adria serve on the Board of Trustees, Chair of the Ritual Committee and a co-founder and member of Manna, which prepared meals for house-bound AIDs patients. She also chanted Torah every Rosh Hashanah morning.

In Florida Adria was an active member of Congregation Kol Tikvah in Parkland. There she was a member of the Sisterhood, and Ritual and Social Action committees. Her first love, however, was Rosh Chodesh, a monthly ceremony only for women, which she co-facilitated.

Adria had a magical voice which, combined with her extraordinary spirit, she used to create deeply powerful healing mediations, long before such efforts became popular on YouTube.

Adria loved to cook, especially soup which she found medative. She was an avid gardener, an activity to which she also ascribed a higher meaning.

Finally, she was an avid golfer who loved days on the course with her husband and with her friends.

She is survived by Jeff, her husband of nearly 53 years; their three children, (in order of birth) Evan (Joanne), Alix (Alexander) and Whitney (John); five grandchildren, who like Bubbies everywhere she loved beyond reason, Mavis, Rose, Ace, Reece and Gwen; her big brother Carl, and many cousins.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, October 26 at 1 p.m. at Congregation Kol Tikvah, 6750 N. University Drive, Parkland, FL 33067.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Cancer Support Community NJ @ Gilda'sClub, 700 New Road, Linwood, NJ 08221, or to Congregation Kol Tikvah.

Her generous, accepting, supportive love and spirit will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.