Barbara Ansel

Barbara Ann (Andorf) Ansel peacefully entered her eternal rest on Saturday evening, November 9th, 2024, after spending 3 days surrounded by her family.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, November 15, 2024 at St. John's Catholic Church, 608 2nd Avenue Northeast in Clarion, with Father Jerry Blake officiating. Burial will be held at St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Clarion.
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Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, with a Rosary and Scriptural Wake beginning at 4:00 PM on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Friday.
Barbara Ann (Andorf) Ansel was born July 31, 1938 in Chicago, IL to parents William and Ann Andorf. On May 4, 1957, Barbara was united in marriage to Ray Ansel in Elmhurst, Ill. The couple made their home in the area until 1961, when the family moved to Kanawha, where Ray and Barb owned and operated the Farmers Club. Barb spent her whole life caring for people and practicing hospitality. The Farmers Club was often filled with friends, family and anyone who wanted to come, even on holidays when it was 'closed'. Ray and Barb served the Kanawha community through the volunteer fire department and Barb's work as an EMT. Barb enjoyed caring for her clients as a home health aide with Wright County Home Health. She retired multiple times from her position as a home health aide and still went back to the office to help with filing and shredding. In 1999 Barb and Ray moved to Clarion, where Barb resided until moving to the Kanawha Community Nursing Home in early 2022.
She was a dedicated member of St. John's Catholic Church, where she and Ray invested in a sister parish in Haiti and faith sponsorship in the local community. You could find Barb quilting, gardening and cheering on her Chicago Cubs. The thing that brought her the most joy in life was her family. She took great pride in her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, attending school sporting events and concerts whenever she could. Barb was always willing to talk about the achievements of her family, treating job promotions and a good day fishing with the same excitement and pride. Those who knew Barb will remember her welcoming spirit to all she met, her ability to find joy in the little things, and her continuous strength, no matter the circumstance.
Barb was welcomed into heaven by her parents, her sister Beverly, brother Jim, husband Ray, daughter Betsy, sons Mike and Joe, and her dear friends, Donna and Delila.
She will continue to be loved and remembered by her daughter Laurie (Herb) Schreur and son Mark (Meridee) Ansel, son-in-law Lynn Mraz; her grandchildren, Zach (Tara) Blunt, Marissa (Joshua) Buckminster, Tyler Ansel, Hannah Clary, Matt (Lynne) Mraz, Bill (Jess) Mraz, Garrett (Jackie) Schreur, Kathrine (Paul) Krukow, Jacob (Carissa) Schreur, Leanna (Jared) Bathen, Noah (Alyssa) Ansel, Kevin (Aubrey) Ansel, Makayla Ansel, and Jaden Ansel, her 20 great-grandchildren, her Aunt Marian and multiple nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff at Kanawha Community Home, who became part of our family as they helped us love and care for Barb in the last few years; Dr. Mike and Pam Whitters for being on-call medical, spiritual and emotional support for Barb, and those around her; the phenomenal staff at Ewing Funeral Home for continuing to walk alongside us through many seasons of grief; and all those who have supported Barb and the people around her. We cannot express enough our appreciation and gratitude to those who loved her by loving us.
We thank God for her. We thank God for you.