Barbara J. "Barb" LaBarbera

Barbara J. "Barb" LaBarbera, 71, of Sugar Grove, passed away suddenly at UPMC Chautauqua on Monday, April 7, 2025. She was born on October 16, 1953, in Greece, NY, to the late Peter and Helen Burke Gogal.
Barb graduated high school from Charlotte High School in Rochester, NY, and obtained her license in cosmetology. She began her career at Rochester Gas & Electric prior to moving to Jamestown, NY, where she began her life with the love of her life, George, whom she married August 20, 1983. She was fortunate to be a stay at home mom able to raise their children but also took great pride in being the bookkeeper for their company, ABC Mechanical, where everything was always balanced "to the penny." Later, she worked for Hallmark stocking greeting cards, etc. at the Warren Walmart store. She spent many years working the pit booth at Stateline and Eriez Speedways, where she enjoyed the comradery as well as watching her husband, and later, son-in-law compete. She was certainly one of their biggest fans.
Her husband and her children were Barb's entire world and she will be remembered as a devoted wife and mother who loved her family fiercely. There is nothing she wouldn't do for her children and they never questioned her love for them. Barb was so very grateful for the life she and George shared together; he was her rock, especially during the hardest of times. He made sure she always had anything and everything she wanted and that meant so much to her, oftentimes hearing her say, "I am so grateful."
Barb enjoyed spending time with her family, camping, decorating, as well as spending winters in Florida with George, her sister, and all of her wonderful friends, whose friendships became so important to her over the years. Recently she took a great interest in stained glass pieces and was really looking forward to making some special pieces. Anyone who knew her knew they never had to question her feelings as she was outspoken and honest. "Though she was little, she was fierce."
Barb will be deeply missed by her husband, George E. LaBarbera; her children, Wesley LaBarbera and Holly (Chris) Hackett; her sister, Kathleen Westmiller (Dennis); her mother-in-law, Antionette LaBarbera; her brother-in-law Anthony LaBarbera (Kathy); her sister-in-law MaryBeth DiMaio (Alex); brother-in-law Thomas (Beth), as well as many nieces and nephews and many, many dear friends whose friendships she cherished deeply. She will also be greatly missed by her havanese, Piper.
The graveside service for Barb will be at 2:00 pm on Monday, April 14, 2025, at Stillwater Cemetery in Kiantone. There will be a Celebration of Life held at New Beginnings Restaurant directly thereafter for anyone who would like to attend.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Traumatic Brain Injury Association.