MARY JOANN BARKER

FUNERAL HOME

Adobe Creek Funeral Home - Petaluma

331 Lakeville Street

Petaluma, California

MARY BARKER Obituary

Mary Joann Barker Age 82, passed away on July 9, 2013 while on vacation in Mendocino County. She was born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana to Matthew Francis Ripberger and Anna Columbia Smith on July 31, 1930. She graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1948 and traveled to San Francisco shortly thereafter, where she met Bill, the love of her life, and never turned back. Mary worked for the State of California and became the very first woman Toll Sergeant on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge where she was admired for her honesty and fairness. She became a member of St. Isabella's Catholic Church following the closure of Blessed Sacrament Parish. After retirement she enjoyed cooking, gardening, traveling, and spending time with her family. She was a member of the Wings of Song Chorus and felt privileged to sing at Carnegie Hall as well as in Berlin and Vienna. She and Bill were long-time members of a San Rafael Bocce Ball team that was hard to beat; there are many trophies to prove it. Mary was a devoted wife and mother who touched the lives of many with her generosity and kindness. She is survived by William Henry, her husband of 62 years, her children: Kathleen, Constance, Michael, Patricia and her son-in-law, Steven Schuler, and by five grandchildren: Sarah, Jessica, Marianne, Alicia, David and by her great-grandchildren: Deus and Cruz as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Friends and family are invited to attend a Rosary on Wednesday July 17th at 7:00 PM and a Memorial Mass on Thursday July 18th at 11:00AM. Both services will be held at St. Isabella's Catholic Church located at One Trinity Way, San Rafael, CA 94903. Donations in her honor may be made to a charity of your choice. Arrangements by Adobe Creek Funeral Home & Cremation Services. Condolences may be made AdobeCreekFuneralHome. com 415-883-8070

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Published by Marin Independent Journal from Jul. 16 to Jul. 17, 2013.

Memories and Condolences
for MARY BARKER

8 Entries

Kevin Laisure

July 18, 2013

Uncle Bill, Cathy, Constance, Michael, & Patty, You all have been in my thoughts and prayers this week. Aunt Mary was such a loving aunt and a good woman! I Always felt that she kept Enid and me in her thoughts and was so thoughtful and loving. I wish we could be there at this difficult time. Aunt Marry's passing was so unexpected, judt like my Mom. That makes it more painful. The only thing I can say is hang on to all the beautiful, loving memories. Time will help heal the hurt.

Lisa Pimentel Fuentes

July 17, 2013

"Grandma Barker"...I was lucky to have you as a pseudo grandmother. I will miss your great sense of humor and how kind you were. This world was a better place with you in it! Thank you for treating me like one of your own grandchildren.

To the Barker/Bay family, my deepest condolences for such a great loss. Strength and prayers for all, through this difficult time.

Mary Pareisa

July 17, 2013

will be praying for you and your family. God has his arms wrapped around your mom and surrounded by all his angels. Mary Pareisa

Adobe Creek Funeral Home

July 16, 2013

Our thoughts are with the family and friends at this time.

Don Bay

July 16, 2013

Take comfort in knowing that now you have a special guardian angel to watch over you.

Joan sassani

July 16, 2013

You will be greatly missed much love to your family and friends .

July 16, 2013

praying for all of you to give you strength during this time. God is guiding her through heavens gate and is surrounded with loving angels.

James Battaglieri

July 16, 2013

There are people you meet or are blessed to have in your family who are simply more extraordinary than others are and you know at some point how lucky you are to have them in your life, but you can still never appreciate them enough. My recollections of my cousin Mary will always be of a woman beyond great, beyond wonderful, and someone who had my complete and utmost admiration. She always made me feel special, but that was her way with everyone.

A pillar of strength, a woman of clear values and beliefs, an incredible mother, wife, friend, and relative, but words will never be able to capture her in totality.

She epitomized devotion -- devotion to her God, devotion to her husband, and devotion to her family, and to all of its extensions. There was always another setting placed at the table for even the most distant of relative or most casual of friend to enjoy her classic, delectable creations.

She was our rock, our saint, our angel, our inspiration, and at times, our source of sanity and good, common, traditional American sense.

My Mom, Ramona, and I are both filled with the sadness of the moment, but knowing life as we do, fortified by our faith, we are celebrating Mary's life and her incredible marriage to her loving husband, Bill. God has called her home, and we thank Him for the time he shared this wonderful woman with us.

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