Amanda Michelle Barber

Amanda Michelle Barber, 35, of Franklin (Cranberry Township), passed away following a sudden illness on Wednesday night, October 29, 2025 at UPMC Shadyside Hospital in Pittsburgh.
She was born in Oil City on March 14, 1990; a daughter of John Joseph and Sherry Ann (Rice) Barber, who survive.
Amanda was a 2009 graduate of Cranberry High School.
Through the years she was actively involved in the Oil City Junior Rifle Team, Cranberry Clovers 4-H, Venango County DeadEyes 4-H, VARHA, the Izaak Walton League (Youth Field Day), the Oil Heritage Fishing Derby; and FLEX (Young Professionals Group) where she graduated from their leadership program.
Amanda loved the outdoors, hunting, shooting sports, mounted cowboy shooting, horses (especially her current horse, Norma Jean), and her dogs, especially "Buck," her Australian Shepherd.
She had worked at VARHA (Venango Area Riding for the Handicapped Association), CATA, and most recently was employed as a caregiver with Passavant Home Care, providing care to individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Amanda is survived by her parents, John and Sherry Barber of Franklin; three sisters: Melany McCrea and her husband Patrick of Pleasantville, Holly Barber and her son Abraham of Kennerdell, and Jolene Green and her husband Mike of Seneca; and her maternal grandmother, Lois Rice of Franklin. Also surviving are her aunts and uncles: Mark Rice of Franklin, Betsy and David Schmude of Cranberry, Linda and Randy Parson of Oil City, Kim Barber Hepler of Oil City, Debbie Barber of Franklin, and Gary and Darlene Barber of Franklin; many cousins including Elizabeth Schmude, Olivia Schmude, and Robert Schmude and his daughter Aurora, whom she was close with; and a special friend, Kim Haas of Ohio.
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Paul Rice; her paternal grandparents, Robert and Rhea Barber; her special horse, Blaze; and her dog, Zy.
Visitation will be held Tuesday (Nov. 4) from 1 - 3 and 6 - 8 p.m. in Hile-Best Funeral Home, 2781 Rte. 257 in Seneca. A funeral service will be held in the funeral home on Wednesday (Nov. 5) at 1 p.m. with Pastor David McVay, officiating. Interment will follow in Brandon Cemetery in Cranberry.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to VARHA, Venango County Humane Society, or the Izaak Walton League.
To express online condolences to Amanda's family, visit www.hilebest.com
The service will be lived streamed on Facebook Page. Search: "Worden Chapel News"
The service will also be available for replay after Nov. 6th on:
youtube.com/@cooperstownoftheumc3189
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