Raye Budd Cyprys' Obituary
Raye Budd Cyprys passed away in Gainesville, Florida on April 15, 2016 from natural causes. She was a renaissance woman with the most engaging personality that both inspired and touched whomever she met. Her remarkable intellect, mental agility, and forward thinking coupled with her warmth and congenial nature attracted all types of people throughout her life. A first generation Englishwoman, she was born in the East End of London, England on January 9, 1918 to the late Deborah and Philip Steel. Her parents were Polish immigrants to England. Raye was the oldest of five children with two brothers and two sisters. On academic scholarship, Raye attended the Crown Street Girls’ High School from which she graduated as valedictorian of her class. She also came from a talented family of artists and nurtured her love of art throughout her life.
In December of 1939 she married her first husband, Norman A. Budd. He served in the British Army for 5 years during World War II. Raye lived in London during the “Blitz”. After two years of bombing, her parents and siblings moved to Leeds in the north of England for safety concerns. In 1950 after the war, her husband Norman, and their two children Deborah and Harvey, immigrated to Sydney, Australia. They journeyed for 4 and a half weeks on a former luxury liner, The Himalaya. To Raye and her families’ delight they were re-introduced to many of the foods that were rationed during the war. In addition, they stopped at many exotic ports, India, Ceylon, Yemen, Egypt, and the Suez Canal, on the trip to Australia.
While in Australia, she initially designed her own clothing line, which she manufactured and sold. Eventually she worked with the House of Dior as a designer. In 1957, Raye moved with her husband and children to the United States, and settled in New York. From New York, she and her family traveled south and worked in the manufacturing field of textiles in South Carolina, Georgia, and finally Florida. In the early-seventies, she and her husband Norman retired to Gainesville, Florida. During that time she became active in Congregation B’nai Israel, joined the Sisterhood, held numerous offices and served as President. After Norman’s death she moved back to South Florida to be closer to her daughter, Deborah and her family. Several years later she met Alex Cyprys who became her second husband. They married in 1981 and she began the second chapter of her life. During this time Alex and Raye were both very active in the Tamarac Jewish Center where they raised approximately one million dollars over a twenty year period for the synagogue. Their love of the state of Israel and the Jewish people catalyzed their motivation for raising money for Israel by selling Israeli bonds and were recognized for their efforts by the state of Israel.
Due to the unfortunate passing of Alex Cyprys in 2015 at the age of 101 years old Raye returned to Gainesville, Florida to live in The Atrium, closer to her son, Harvey Budd and daughter-in-law Ilene Silverman. During this wonderful past year in Gainesville she delighted in socializing with new friends at The Atrium and old and new friends at Congregation B’nai Israel Friendship Circle. She re-initiated her activities at the synagogue by celebrating milestones such as her 98th birthday with an Aliyah, as well as attending special events. Her passions were creating poetry, oil painting, writing, reading and traveling which continued throughout her life.
Raye is survived by two brothers, Samuel Steel (Beulah) and Solomon Steel; children, Deborah Frank, Harvey Budd (Ilene); stepsons, Lloyd Cyprys (Sherry), Alan Cyprys (Erica), Kenneth Cyprys (Andrea); 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren, nephew Michael Friedman and many other nephews and nieces around the world. Raye’s life was enriched by her friendship with Katherine Thomas, her “Gainesville Daughter” whom we thank for her unconditional love and care. Many thanks also to her Sunday English companion, Jan Lucas.
Funeral Services will be held on Monday, April 18, 2016 at 1:00 pm in the sanctuary of Congregation B’nai Israel, 3830 Northwest 16th Blvd. Gainesville, FL 32605 with Rabbi David Kaiman officiating. Interment will follow at B’nai Israel Cemetery on Waldo and University.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be directed to Congregation B’nai Israel, for the Congregation Sisterhood or the Friendship Circle.
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