Elizabeth D. Barker

Elizabeth Diana Barker, 58, passed away at her home on November 29, 2024 after a hard-fought battle with cancer. She was surrounded by overwhelming love and devotion from her wife, Kathy Barker and a host of friends and family members.
Elizabeth (Beth, as she was nicknamed) was born on April 2, 1966 in Trenton, NJ. Beth was raised by her birth mother and several foster parents until being adopted as a teenager by Richard and Diana Barker of Haddonfield, NJ.
The Barkers were dedicated to adopting children--most of whom were physically or emotionally challenged--but Beth's adoption came with a demand. She refused to join the Barker family without her two birth sisters, Sara and Juliet, coming along as well. When Richard and Diana agreed, Beth said it was "like winning the Miss America pageant."
As the oldest of the 13 children in the family, and with no disabilities, Beth became a second mother to her younger siblings. "I've grown to love them all," she said of her brothers and sisters not long after being adopted. She was an honor student at Haddonfield Memorial High School, played the violin and flute, and was a member of the school band. She dreamt of becoming an actress and played the dormouse in her school's production of Alice in Wonderland, graduating in 1985.
Beth went on to study psychology at Eastern University, graduating in 1990. She had a passion for helping children, working at times as a juvenile probation officer and behavioral specialist. More recently, she founded the Angels' Heart Family Attachment Services, offering in-home behavioral modification training to parents of children with diagnoses like Reactive Attachment Disorder, many of whom were adopted like her.
Beth had been undergoing treatment for lupus for many years before her cancer was discovered about two years ago. By that time, she had been married to Kathy Barker, the love of her life, for eight years. With Kathy at her side, Beth-who was stubborn and had a big heart-faced a tough prognosis with spirit and grit. She particularly enjoyed visits from her grandchildren and loved cardinals and angels. Beth believed that the birds represented a gift from heaven, and that angels made her feel safe and watched over. She was delighted when visitors would bring her ceramic or glass representations of each during her illness.
A month ago, Beth promised to cook the Thanksgiving turkey herself this year, as was her custom. She had to break that promise, but her loved ones believe that she stayed alive until the morning after that holiday so they could celebrate in her presence. She will, however, miss the Christmas Eve gathering she established four years ago, for which it was mandatory that family members wore matching holiday pajamas. Beth will also be mourned by her two chihuahuas, Kenzie and Kayla; the latter of which was a constant presence in her hospice bed in her final months.
Beth is survived by her daughter Nyssa Ruediger (Ryan); son Justin Barker; and stepdaughter Katie Forringer (Darius Miller)--who she referred to as a "bonus daughter"-siblings Richard "Tony" Barker (Bazhena); Ashley Barker; Christopher Barker; Victoria Preston; Juliet Barker; Theodore Barker; birth mother Margery Horner; grandchildren Zachary Barker; Chase Matthews; Skylar Ruediger; and Cali Ruediger; and nieces and nephews Izabella "Iza" Barker; Seth Preston; Brandon Barker; and Crista Barker.
Family and friends are invited to Beth's Life Celebration on Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 11 AM – 12 PM, followed by her Memorial Service at 12 PM, at the Beck-Givnish Life Celebration Home, 7400 New Falls Rd., Levittown, PA 19055.