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Barbara Ham Obituary
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Barb was born on April 9, 1952 to the late William J. and Harriet C. (Dzwilewski) Piatkowski. Along with her parents, Barb was preceded in death by her husband, James R. Ham Jr. who she married on July 22, 1972; and sisters Carol Rice and Mary Ann (Jim) Galvas.
Left to cherish the memory of Barb is her daughter, Julie (David) Bowering of Cicero, IN; son, Jim (Jill) Ham of Ashburn, VA; niece and nephew Lora and Richard Williams of South Bend; grandchildren Haylie Dickson, William Ham, Nathan Ham, and Payton Bowering; great nieces Jade Williams and Paige Williams; her cousins and many friends.
Barb was a graduate of Washington High School Class of 1970. She was a loving mother and "Nana" to her grandchildren. Nana helped care for her grandchildren when they were young. During the 1980's, Barb earned her real estate broker's license. She was very proud of that accomplishment and helped many people buy and sell homes. She spent many years fulfilling her purpose of caring for children through driving a school bus with South Bend Community Schools and Fort Wayne Community Schools. Barb worked for Southwest Allen County Schools at Friendship Company in Fort Wayne caring for students before and after school until her retirement in 2018.
Barb loved traveling to Disney World, Siesta Key, and other Florida beaches. She loved spending time at the lake with her family.
Visitation for Barb will be on Thursday, December 29, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a Rosary to be prayed at 6:30 PM at St. Joseph Funeral Home, 824 S Mayflower Rd. Family and friends may visit again on Friday, December 30, 2022 from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at Holy Family Catholic Church, 56405 Mayflower Rd with a mass beginning at 10:30 AM. Burial will immediately follow at St. Joseph Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association or American Stroke Association.
The family would like to thank Community North Hospital-HATS, Grand Brook Memory Care Zionsville, Ascension St Vincents Hospital Indianapolis, and Compassus Hospice for the love, care, and compassion shown to Barb in her final weeks
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824 South Mayflower Road, South Bend, IN 46619
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