Mari Barb

Marinette F. "Mari" Barb, 101, died in her sleep on Jan. 20, 2021 in her apartment at Morningside of Williamsburg.

Mari, the daughter of Joseph Monboisse and Maria Angele Lecroix Monboisse, was born on September 16, 1919, in the small town of Saint-Santin in the south of France, where she spent her childhood. She moved to Paris to live with an aunt after the early deaths of her parents.

After World War II began, Mari joined the French Underground, and later worked with the O.S.S., the predecessor of the CIA. Her secret work included helping soldiers and airmen trapped behind enemy lines to escape through underground networks.

In the immediate post-war period she met her husband James Barb, then in France with the American army. After early assignments in Germany and Belgium, the couple returned to the United States, where Mari attended Rutgers University and was made an American citizen by a special act of Congress. Later intelligence work took Mari and Jim to the Pacific Island of Saipan, on two tours in Vietnam, and in Mari's case, for an extended stay in Hong Kong, but with returns to Camp Peary in Williamsburg between overseas assignments.

After retirement Mari and Jim made Williamsburg their permanent home, and because Mari insisted that she was "retired from cooking" as well as from her job, she and Jim greeted friends daily at favorite restaurants. Mari often moved from table to table greeting old friends and making new ones, in part by relating to them her many interesting and humorous stories about overseas adventures. Mari had a knack for learning and remembering new languages, and when she met someone from another country, often surprised them by greeting them in their own language.

After her beloved husband Jim's death over thirty years ago, Mari kept up a busy schedule, and in the last twenty-five years she became well known to hundreds as an honored attendee at food and live entertainment venues in Williamsburg, like J. M. Randall's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Golden Corral, and the Williamsburg Lodge. At the first two venues she excelled as a Trivia game competitor; at the Lodge she could be found enjoying the Smith Wade Band on Saturday nights. She continued these activities even after she moved into her assisted living facility a few years ago. Her 100th birthday celebration in 2019 at the local VFW post attracted an abundance of friends, from both nearby and as far away as New Mexico and Canada, who came to honor her as a friend and an American patriot.

Mari is survived by her sister Jeanne Bessis (NJ) and two sisters in France, Gervaise Monboisse and Dede Monboisse. Her surviving nieces and nephews from her family include Agnes Savvides (NJ), Beatrice DeBerry (CA); and in France, Christine Regnier, Patrice Kissel, Hughes Treton, and Carole Treton; and from Jim's family, James Barb (NM), Paula Barb (NM); Paul Barb (New Brunswick, Canada); Gail Barb (MD); James McGraw (WV); Richard Barb (MO); Bernard Barb (FL); and Alan Ahrens (OH). Countless friends are thankful they had the privilege of knowing Mari.

Nelsen Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Burial at Arlington and a Celebration of Life service in Williamsburg will be held at a later dates.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Vetshouse Incorporated, a homeless veterans support organization, P. O. Box 62963, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23466. Memories of Mari may be shared at www.nelsenwilliamsburg.com.