Obituary of Pepita Lorraine Urbina Kudarauskas Kauffman

Passed away peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, August 28, 2013, in Arlington, Va., with her husband Kenneth and other family by her side. Born March 14, 1924, in Washington, D.C., and raised in Boston, Mass. An alumna of Boston Girls’ Latin School, she earned degrees from Radcliffe College (BA), Harvard University (MA), The Ohio State University (MA), and George Washington University (EdD). A clinical psychologist, researcher and counselor, she practiced at Worcester State Hospital and Harvard University School of Public Health, taught Parent Effectiveness Training courses while living overseas, and was a trainer for the Northern Virginia Hotline. As a Foreign Service wife, she herded her eight children to her husband’s first assignment in New Delhi, India, in 1961, and raised the family during subsequent postings, which included Ankara, Turkey; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Paris, France. The family traveled extensively during the journeys to and from each post, and lived in Pelham, N.Y., for a year while Kenneth worked for the Council on Foreign Relations. Pepita also lived in Europe and England for a period before having children. Pepita was extraordinarily dedicated to developing and sharing knowledge and understanding of the people, languages and cultures of each country. She found great pleasure in immersing herself and her family in local life. Through her extraordinary enthusiasm, intelligence and charm, she forged innumerable friendships and became a valuable ambassador for the United States. Vivacious and multi-talented, she pursued many studies and hobbies. A trained vocalist, she also played a variety of musical instruments. She studied Indian classical music and dance as well as Turkish music. She was on the Radcliffe fencing team and later became an avid equestrian. She was a prolific reader who also wrote children’s stories. Following retirement, she and Kenneth continued to travel to Europe, the United Kingdom, Asia and the Middle East. She studied many languages and always strove to perfect her French, taking advanced courses at the Institut Catholique de Paris and participating in local conversation groups. She was also an active member of the Thomas Nelson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a member of the French Huguenot Society, and a member of the American Psychological Association. She was predeceased by her parents, Pedro Y. J. and Emily Grigg Urbina, her brother, Pedro Y. J. Urbina, Jr., her son, Gregor P. Kudarauskas, her former husband, Edmund N. Kudarauskas, and many beloved pets. She is survived by her husband, Kenneth M. Kauffman, her children and their spouses Aleida Inglis, Lisa and Earl Forrence, Mark Kudarauskas, Suzette and William Fulton, Laura and Ted Williams, Kenneth and Cameron Kauffman, Hilary and William Shughart, daughter-in-law Margaret Kudarauskas, ten grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many other relatives. Visitation on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2-6 p.m., at Advent Funeral Services, 7211 Lee Hwy, Falls Church, Va.