BARBARA A. HALLADAY

HALLADAY BARBARA ANN HALLADAY Barbara Ann (Lee) Halladay passed away on November 2, 2012 as a result of heart failure. She was 91 years of age. Born on June 19, 1921, in Topeka, Kansas, she was the third of five children born to Edward Robert and Olga Sabina (Schubert) Lee. From an early age, Barbara showed great talent as a singer and made her solo debut at age 6, performing at a Kansas Day celebration. She frequently was a featured soloist at her church and, on occasion, sang in ensemble with her three sisters. During her years at Topeka Catholic High School, she was privileged to study under Agnes De Lorne Simpson, who had been a principal singer with the Paris Grand Opera. Under the guidance of Agnes Simpson, Barbara, a lyric soprano, auditioned at the Metropolitan Opera before Wilfrid Pelletier, long-time Director of the Metropolitan Opera. She graduated from high school in 1939 and was the recipient of several scholarships to continue her vocal studies. Hard economic times, however, forced her to forego the scholarship awards and begin employment. She continued to perform as a soloist at a variety of church, political and social functions, and was presented in recital at age 20. While working as a court clerk, she met the love of her life, John Robert ("Bob") Halladay, a reporter for the local paper, The Topeka Daily Capital. They were married in 1945 at Old St. Mary's Church in San Francisco, California. Following Mr. Halladay's completion of military service at Chico, CA Air Base, the couple returned to Topeka, where Barbara began an active life as a mother, homemaker, and volunteer for numerous school events and various charitable organizations. The family moved to Washington, D.C. in 1965, when Mr. Halladay took a position with the American Trucking Associations (ATA). An active, life-long Catholic, Barbara belonged to St. Andrew Apostle Church in Silver Spring, MD, where she participated in a variety of church activities and served a term as President of St. Andrew's School Board. For many years, she did volunteer work at Manor Care Nursing Home in Wheaton, MD and cooked meals for "So Others May Eat" (SOME). Until her mid-80's, she sponsored a child in Latin America. Barbara was an avid gardener who delighted in the fact that her four children shared her passion for gardening. Always game for an adventure, Barbara enjoyed long hikes in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and horseback trail rides well into her 70's and began ice skating in her 50's. She once took flight instruction, landing a Piper Cub. Barbara also took a keen interest in her Austrian roots and began instruction in the German language in her 60's. She first visited her Austrian relatives in Vienna in 1978 and continued to correspond - in German - with her relatives until her death. Barbara always was a true help-mate to her husband and accompanied him on numerous business trips over the course of their 67 year marriage. She enjoyed their travels together throughout the United States and made many lasting friendships within the American Trucking Associations "family." Barbara is survived by her children, Jay Halladay of Hagerstown, MD, Nancy Halladay of Olney, MD, Roberta Halladay of Chevy Chase, MD and Patrick (Joan) Halladay of New Market, MD. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Joe Halladay of Brooklyn, NY; Kari (Keith) Primozic of Gaithersburg, MD; Michael Nowak of Gilbert, AZ; and, Jennifer (Marcus) Sciadini of Highland, MD; and her great-grandchildren, Logan, Anna and Jacob Primozic; and, Gianna Sciadini. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John Robert Halladay, who died on September 26, 2012. She also was preceded in death by her brother Schubert Lee, as well as her sisters Mary Jane Limke, Mildred Seitz, and Susie McGiffert. Relatives and friends may call at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Boulevard, West, Silver Spring, MD, (Valet Parking), Monday, November 5, 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Tuesday November 6 at St. Andrew Apostle Catholic Church, 11604 Kemp Mill Road, Silver Spring, MD at 10:30 a.m. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to So Others May Eat ("SOME"), 71 "0" Street, NW, Washington, D.C. or to the Little Sisters of the Poor at 4200 Harewood Road, NE, Washington, DC 20017. www.collinsfuneralhome.comwww.collinsfuneralhome.com