September 15, 1951 to May 17, 2024

Beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend passed away peacefully in Grass Valley at age 72. In her wake, she leaves an abundance of love, kindness, and passion for her community for which she will be remembered.

Barbara came into this world with a purpose she would discover and deliver over the next several decades. Barbara was known for her gentle spirit, kindness, and unwavering optimism in human kinds potential.

After suffering abrupt disruption from mental illness in the middle of her life, Barbara made a remarkable recovery. It’s on this path she found a calling true to her soul. Over the better of twenty years, she has unwaveringly served in many roles advocating for mental health support, including as a peer support counselor and most notably as the former longtime Executive Director of SPIRIT Peer Empowerment Center. It is in these capacities she found her calling and was able to share her gifts of compassion and companionship to help many in need navigate through their toughest hours.

She was a proud and nurturing mother who always had her sons in her thoughts. She is survived by sons Devin (Colin) and Strand (Devin), her grandchildren Conor and Jacen, and siblings John and Sandra.

A Celebration of Life will be held at SPIRIT Peer Empowerment Center, Friday, July 12, 2024 from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.