Barbara had such an impact on me and the person I have become. As my first employer, she was such an inspiration for the energy and bright attitude that she brought with her every day. She demonstrated for me what it looks like to love and take pride in the work that you do. She'd never let anything stand in the way of what she wanted to get done; she may have been small but, boy, was she feisty and headstrong! This helped me realize the power of my own voice and ability even as I moved on to much more stressful work environments. Obviously, she was much more than just my boss, though - before and after I left the bookstore. For most of my formative years I thought of her as a grandmother and will forever treasure all of the time I was able to know and love her. Her nurturing attitude helped me understand the way that "family" transcends blood.
My prayers to the family and all who had the privilege to love Barbara