Barbara Ann Bocci

Barbara was born near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to her parents John and Mary Wassick on April 11, 1937. Barbara lost her mother Mary to tuberculosis when she was three. Her father then remarried her stepmother, Jeanne, and her brother Stephen was added to their family several years later. She was baptized at Ss Peter and Paul Carpatho Russian Orthodox Church as an infant, but later converted to Evangelical Protestant Christianity upon her marriage to Louis Bocci, in June 1961. She was married in Cleveland, Ohio.

She attended Laura Lamar High School in Homer City Pennsylvania, and graduated 1955. She had extensive friends in her small town. She was very close to her cousins Renee Vargo and Mary Ann Melanowski, as well as her friends Carol DeCario, Eveleen Huczko, Wanda Benning, Eleanor and Victor Stelma, Carolyn “Cal” Campbell, and Marlene Korywchak. She was awarded “Cutest in the Class” by her high school. She participated in glee club, and choral music was one of the great joys of her life. She enjoyed swimming, dancing, and basketball. She was known for her friendly and bubbly personality. Her big laugh and bright smile was loved by everyone who knew her.

In her early married life, she and Lou relocated to Chicago, Illinois, where they owned a sporting goods shop. Barbara helped run and maintain this business, where she frequently greeted the public and helped with inventory. It was during this time that her only child, Adrienne was born. Due to complications with Adrienne’s congenital heart condition, it was determined best in 1976 that the family move to California, where the climate would be more favorable. Barbara and Lou settled near Lou’s extended family and cousins in San Jose California. Lou’s family loved Barbara throughout their stay there, and remained close to her after her divorce years later.

She had a spectacular alto singing voice, and participated in her church choir for many years. One her most dear accomplishments was singing in the Voices of Bethel’s Christmas program, the Singing Christmas Tree, which was performed for many years in the Santa Clara Center for Performing Arts. She loved to decorate her home for Christmas in an extravagant way. She loved garlands and wreaths, and displayed them throughout her home during that season. She had a passion for anything that sparkled. Her trademark was handmade ornate bows that she made and would place on every package she gave.

She had a passion for the mountains and hills of the area surrounding Pittsburg, where she grew up. This love would remain with her for the rest of her life, and was one of the great joys that she had in exploring the redwoods in California. She enjoyed long drives along the coast and was happiest in Big Sur, Carmel, and Monterey. She spent a number of years owning her own cleaning business, and eventually she became and administrative assistant in the technology industry in the Bay Area. She was exceptionally organized and loved the finer details. She loved to help people, and spent a great deal of her life entertaining and hosting parties at her home. Barbara was a shining example of selfless service throughout her life. She was an excellent cook, and to broaden her scope of expertise, she attended Asian Cooking School, which was a cuisine she was excited to learn about. She would often cook for days in preparation for an event.

She remained in California until 2000, and upon her divorce, she relocated to Yakima, Washington, to be close to her daughter Adrienne. In the course of living in Yakima, her focus shifted to being a support to Adrienne. In February 2003, she became a grandmother to her only grandchild, Macrina. This was the great highlight of Barbara’s life. Soon after Macrina’s birth, she retired for her work in the non-profit industry. She spent as much time as possible with Adrienne and Macrina, and was the most doting grandmother. She often said that being a grandmother was her best and true calling.

She was diagnosed with Dementia in October of 2011. She became a member of Chandler House Memory Care that next year, where she was a beloved resident who was known for her love of dancing and her sunny personality. She passed this life in the hope of the resurrection on October 24, 2021, after a long battle with the progression of her disease, sepsis, and kidney failure.

Her legacy can be defined by her great emphasis on kindness and she was a deeply compassionate person. She had a wonderful sense of humor which was often dry and non-intentional. She had a love of fun, laughter, and was exceptionally hard working. She deeply understood grief throughout her life. Barbara was exceptionally giving, supportive, and loved to share a cup of tea and conversation. She loved everything that was beautiful, and always wanted everything to look “perfect”. She always emphasized the importance of education. Barbara was a deeply loving person who has been missed every day during the course of her disease. She is remembered with great love by her family and friends.