Nelda Ruth Golden
Aug. 19, 1927–March 14, 2026
Nelda Ruth Golden, 98, passed away March 14, 2026. The sole child of William and Thelma Brounstein, she was born in Rochester, New York, Aug. 19, 1927.
She moved to Binghamton after marrying Stan Golden. In 1952, the couple welcomed their daughter Barbara Lynn, who later became a federal judge. In 1957, Nelda and Stan relocated to Miami, Florida. Nelda managed bookstores at Miami Dade Community College, eventually concluding her career as manager at the downtown campus. While residing in Miami, Stan served as president of Temple Adath Yeshurun, while Nelda served as president of the temple sisterhood.
In 1980, Nelda and Stan relocated to Dallas to be closer to Barbara and her husband Mike. Nelda established a temporary employment business and later engaged in personnel consulting work for various Dallas companies. She was a founding member of the Association of Women Executives. Upon her retirement, she became highly active with the Southwest Jewish Congress, where she served as head of programming emeritus. Nelda and Stan were also deeply involved in Temple Emanu-El and formed the Couples Club for older members. Nelda and Stan embarked on extensive travels, particularly enjoying cruises in Europe and South America.
Nelda was well known for her friendliness, intelligence, wonderful judgment, stimulating conversation and great wit. She had friends of all ages in places all over America. She could, and did, talk to just about everyone on a wide variety of subjects, and everyone she met was left with a singularly positive impression and desire to learn more.
Nelda was preceded in death by her beloved Stan in 2016.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Barbara and Mike; granddaughters Tara (and her husband Tracey and their daughters Reily and Blake) and Whitney (and her husband Travis and their children Shepherd and Carter); nephews Spencer and Todd Golden; and countless friends and admirers.
A memorial service for Nelda was held Thursday, March 19, in the Stern Chapel at Temple Emanu-El.
Donations in Nelda’s memory may be made to the Southwest Jewish Congress or the charity of your choice.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to Sparkman Hillcrest.
Cynthia Weiss Parr
Aug. 4, 1959–March 3, 2026
Cynthia Weiss Parr, 66, died peacefully March 3, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer.
Cynthia was a graduate of the Lausanne School in Memphis, Tennessee, where she excelled in mathematics. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial engineering at the University of Michigan, specializing in ergonomics. Following graduation, Cynthia worked as a consultant, redesigning control rooms of nuclear power plants after the Three Mile Island meltdown.
Cynthia married Rabbi Jordan Parr in 1985. The following year, they moved to Dallas, where Cynthia worked in the defense division of Texas Instruments. Shortly after leaving Texas Instruments, she opened a home-based calligraphy business and soon gave birth to Rebecca. After moving to Augusta, Georgia, in 1990, Cynthia worked as an AutoCAD instructor, teaching adults with disabilities a marketable skill. In Augusta, she gave birth to Sarah. After moving back to Dallas in 2002, Cynthia worked various jobs, including as a personal assistant and an intake manager for The Nanny Agency.
Her true passion lay in volunteer work. In high school, Cynthia was president of MeFTY, the youth group of Temple Israel in Memphis. She also was a founding board member of The Vogel Alcove, helping to establish its teen summer camp program, and a board member of the Women of Reform Judaism, where she was recognized for her innovative work in designing and marketing synagogue gift shops.
In recent years, Cynthia traveled with Jordan to his various pulpits and especially enjoyed traveling abroad to places such as Prague, Barcelona, the Cayman Islands, and Israel. They also went on a private heritage tour to Poland, where they visited Auschwitz and her great-grandparents’ village.
Cynthia was predeceased by her father, Arnold Weiss, z”l.
She is survived by her husband, Rabbi Jordan Parr; their daughters, Rebecca Hannah Parr and Sarah Emily Starobin (Semyon); two grandchildren, Reuven Caleb and Shira Liora Starobin; her mother, Joan Weiss; and her sisters, Barbara Kimmel (Henry) and Dr. Susan Orenstein (Dr. Raphael), as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A graveside service was held Sunday, March 8, at the Congregation Beth Torah Garden at Restland Memorial Park, with Rabbi Sydni Rubenstein officiating. A shiva minyan was held that evening at Congregation Beth Torah. Donations may be made to The Legacy Senior Communities, Congregation Beth Torah or a charity of your choice.
A special note of gratitude goes to the Legacy at Home Hospice community of nurses, aides and caregivers, including Rabbi Holly Cohn, Heather Rey and Faith Retsky, who made Cynthia’s final days peaceful and fulfilling. The family also thanks their dear friend Karen Mantel, who dedicated hours of her time to sit with Cynthia over the past months. Thanks also go to Andrea and Robert McDaniel, dear friends who accompanied Cynthia on her final journey.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to Dallas Jewish Funerals.
