Rebecca Ellen Ofengender

Rebecca Ofengender, daughter of Ann and Abe Ofengender, sister to Sara (Marc) Weinstein and Joe (Jill) Ofengender,

Aunt to Michael, Aaron, Mara, Abby and Melissa, Great Aunt to Madden, Logan and Jake, niece to Uncle Haim Calderon, cousin to many and housemate to Alan, Michael and Adam, died Monday after a short illness.

Rebecca was always happy to see her family and friends even though she dealt with lifelong challenges. Rebecca worked at Noble Centers, a supported work center, for more than 20 years, proudly telling everyone, after she stopped working, that she had ‘retired’. Coincidentally, Noble Centers was founded the year Rebecca was born. Rebecca’s family helped to secure a long time home for her and others when they, along with the Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis and Sharon and Steve Jacobs, created the Jacob’s Home for Developmentally Disabled Adults. Rebecca and 2 housemates moved into the Jacobs Home in 1989 and resided there until her death, almost 35 years. 

Our family cannot begin to express our tremendous and eternal gratitude to the staff of Jacobs Home and New Hope of Indiana who long ago moved past the role of caregiver to that of family both to Rebecca and to all of us. 

Services for Rebecca will be July 24 at 2 PM at the Etz Chaim Sephardic Cemetery West, 2200 South West Street, Indianapolis, 46225

Shiva will be observed at the home of Jill & Joe Ofengender in Carmel from 6 PM – 9 PM on Wednesday the 24th, Thursday the 25th from 1 PM – 4 PM and 6 PM – 9 PM with minyan at 630PM on Wednesday and Thursday and Saturday evening the 27th from 730 PM – 930 PM. The Ofengender address will be provided at the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, donations will be gratefully accepted at

Etz Chaim Sephardic Congregation, 6939 Hoover Road, Indianapolis, 46260

New Hope of Indiana, 8450 N. Payne Road, Suite 300 Indianapolis, 46268

Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis 6705 Hoover Road, Indianapolis, 46260.

May Rebecca’s family be comforted among all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem and may her memory be a blessing.