Barbara Ann Berlanti

1945 - 2017

Barbara Ann Berlanti

Jan. 18, 1945 - May 6, 2017

Barbara Ann Berlanti a proud mother, even more proud grandmother, loving, devoted though not very obedient wife, and friend to all she met died on May 6th due to complications from lung cancer.

Barbara Ann Moller was born in the Bronx to Bertha and John Moller. Though she left the Bronx as a young girl the Bronx never left her and Barbara carried a tough minded spirit with her all her days. That spirit was eclipsed only by her warmth, her stylish and dignified composure, her maternal nature and her compassion toward others.

As a girl she lived with her parents and her young brother John for a short time in Hewitt, Long Island and New Rochelle before her family finally settled in Rye, N.Y. where Barbara attended Rye High School. It was at Rye High that Barbara made some of her dearest and lifelong friends, danced many a lindy at the local sockhop, was voted most beautiful in her class of 1962, allegedly turned down an offer to pose in Playboy, and fell madly in love with a handsome, somewhat reserved, athletic young man two years her senior, Gene Berlanti.

Barbara and Gene were married in August of 1963 and stayed married for the next 53 years. During that time they shared two kids, three grandkids, amazing friendships, at least four big home moves, financial struggles and windfalls, fights, romance and lots of dancing (Gene got better at the dancing part). One of Barbara's greatest sources of pride was their shared love and commitment to one another through good times and through bad. As Barbara added on many occasions, "they can't all be great times, most of them aren't, that's why you really have to love the person you're with."

Barbara's other source of pride were her children. She gave birth to their daughter Dina in 1967 and their son Greg in 1972. In 1980 Gene and Barbara moved back to the same town they grew up, Rye N.Y., to raise their children. Gene would be the first to say how blessed he was to have a wife that raised the kids, did the bills and planned their social calendar all while he singularly pursued his own career ambitions. Actually, Barbara would be the first to say how lucky Gene was. But Gene would always agree. At the root of this choice was Gene's belief that Barbara was the best parent he could ever imagine, so he was happy to have her take the lead.

Barbara was also a working mother and held jobs between retail and secretarial work for over twenty years, while still driving her kids everywhere, making sure they did their homework and made cheerleader or play practice, still cooked dinner almost every night and never forgot to send every friend a birthday card or start buying Christmas gifts for everyone she knew sometime in July. Barbara watched with tears and immense pride last year as her daughter Dina, a mother herself now, finished graduating the nursing program at the College of the Desert. And Barbara was so vocally proud of Greg's work in television and film that her husband often noted that Warner Brothers didn't need to pay for advertising "with Barbara walking around". Barbara was known anecdotally in Hollywood for the elaborate pillows she would have made for Greg's office celebrating each of his productions. She was making adjustments to the Supergirl pillow from her hospital bed during her most recent stay. But as proud as she was of what her children accomplished, her real source of pride was simply that she had raised "two good people, with good values, who were good parents themselves".

Not surprisingly, it was Barbara's role as grandmother that gave her the most joy. Dina moved to Rancho Mirage four years ago to be closer to her parents while she finished school. Grandma was an incredible inspiration and role model to Dina's girls Hannah and Katie. She loved taking them to school and attending their games and recitals, but was most pleased by their strong minds and independent spirits that she helped foster. Her grandson, Caleb, was born last year and their immediate soulmate connection was an immense source of peace and happiness for both of them as Barbara battled her illness.

Though family was Barbara's first priority, she stayed incredibly involved with her community and church wherever she lived. While living with Gene in both New York and New Jersey she was active in the PTA and served on Boards for the Rye Arts Center, The Monmouth Day Care Center and The Ronald McDonald House. Since moving to the Coachella Valley, she was active on the Palm Springs MAC Board as well as the CVRep.

At the end, Barbara wanted people to know she loved and enjoyed life. She also wanted people to know that her sickness didn't defeat her-- she was grateful for the time she had and the people she got to love and be loved by in return. Her cancer may have overcome her lungs but it somehow grew her heart even more. She was at peace and looked back on her life with amazement and gratitude.

Barbara was preceded in death by her father John, mother Bertha, and brother John. She is survived by her husband Gene, her daughter Dina, son Greg and grandchildren, Hannah Katie and Caleb.

A wake will be held on Wednesday, May 10th 2017 from 4-7 PM at Christ of the Desert Chapel. 73441 Fred Waring Drive. Palm Desert, California 92260. A Memorial mass will be held beginning at 11:30 am on May 11th at Sacred Heart Church in Palm Desert, CA. 43775 Deep Canyon Rd. Palm Desert, CA 92260. Reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers you may make a donation to Ronald McDonald House, or Eisenhower Medical Center Lucy Curci Cancer Center. 39000 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270, in Barbara's name. More importantly, it's Mother's Day on Sunday and Barbara would very much want you to send flowers to your Mom.

Entrusted to the care of Wiefels, Funeral Directors Palm Springs