Barbara M. Hackenberg

Barbara Marion (Held) Hackenberg, 87, passed away on Sunday, June 19, 2022 at UPMC Hamot after a brief illness.
Born in Erie on May 29, 1935, she was the daughter of Carl W. Held and Mary A. (Dengel) Held, and sister of Suzanne (Herb) Cherry, Pauline (Dick) Mosher, Carolyn (Bob) Salow and was predeceased by her only brother David in 1976.
Barb was married to Arthur Hackenberg and was the best mother to her five children, Jeffrey (Craig), Jennie, Brian, Paula (Philip) and Gregory. She loved being a grandma to Brianne (Pete) and their kiddos Billy and Jack, Christopher and daughter Haley, Alicia, Joe, and Lia Marie.
Barb graduated from Academy High School in 1953 and was awarded the language award, although she always said she wasn't sure how. She enjoyed a lifetime of reading: weekly trips to the library until COVID hit, mystery novels, Readers' Digest (among other magazines), and the daily newspaper. She was still paying the bills (never online-covering her payment envelopes with happy stickers!), still able to drive, doing all of the at least eight 'puzzles' from the daily newspaper, watching Game Show Network, Perry Mason, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy.
She was a great cook-her holiday meals were the bomb, and she made THE best German potato salad and pumpkin pie ever. She was a frugal shopper always looking for sales and using coupons and instructing the cashiers to make sure she got the best deal possible.
She liked to listen to opera, but also loved attending the Elton John concert with Jennie in 2014. She loved pansies with their 'cute faces' and loved all of her flowers and plants. She hated housework, but loved collecting lots of things, especially butterflies and pig related items.
Barb enjoyed watching all sports especially those that her children participated in and she was known as 'Mama Hack With The Snack' after all of Greg's Little League baseball games.
She was also wonderful at giving great advice, so we will leave you with one of her favorite sayings: "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."
Private funeral arrangements were held under the direction of the Russell C. Schmidt and Son Funeral Home, Inc., 5000 Wattsburg Rd., Erie, 16504.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Iroquois branch of the Erie Library, through The Erie Regional Library Foundation, 160 East Front Street, Erie, PA 16507. Please designate donations to the Iroquois branch.