During her time at Butterworth Funeral Home Barbara supported us through some very difficult times. Through this all she was much more than a funeral coordinator, she became a friend. Over the years we exchanged Christmas cards and we would pop in and say hello on occasion. We moved out of state and lost track of Barbara. I was going through old papers and came across her name and found she had passed. Back when we were planning too many memorial services she joked with us that she wanted us to plan her service someday. I am sorry we didn't know when she passed but I am so thankful we knew her and that she was part of our lives at such an important time. She was a very special woman.

In our hearts and minds forever...
Thank you for the putting up with daily and sometimes probably a little boring calls.  Thank you for bailing us out, propping us up, and sometimes helping us figure it out for ourselves. Thank you for allowing one of us be the eyes and ears for those of us so far away. 
Thank you for working ungodly hours just to make sure your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren had what you thought they needed and for setting such a wonderful example for all of us.  Thank you for the laughter, the hugs, the smiles, and the time you spent with each of us. 
Love you to the moon and back again


Some of the many things Mom enjoyed.....

Watching her children grow, then discovering each of them as they became adults.

Spending as much time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren as she could get especially without their parents around.

The amazing adventure of her Trip to Italy with the Perici's, whom we all consider part of our extended family.

Her Major Career change at the young age of 73.  A Career she was made for.

Growing older and celebrating Race day/birthday each August with family and friends....the more the merrier!  The 90th was Great.

Celebrating her 50 yrs of marriage, and just recently celebrating a child's 50 yrs of marriage.  The look on Ron's face said it all.

All the time with Odessa and the banter that came with it...she would now add .."go get that hip done"

Having Richard show up for breakfast.

Watching Dale and Carol working in the yard.

10pm phone calls.  Sometimes less that 60 seconds and others long into the night.  

Friday night visits and dinner (and of course wine) with Antonio.

Most of all...putting on those rose colored glasses every morning except I think she never took them off. We are so grateful to have experienced with her what life looked like through those lenses. Perhaps some day we'll have a pair of our own.

What an amazing life she led.

Anita

Lovely woman inside and out, I will miss her very much

Barbara was a light-filled woman;  I knew that, I felt that the first day I met her.  It was in the foyer of Butterworth Funeral Home on Capital Hill and she was looking for 'something' to do; she didn't 'give her time away' (I.e. volunteer), she wasn't doing it for the money (that still makes me chuckle), she wanted to do something meaningful.  So she landed herself a part-time job answering the phones on the weekends and working evening visitations.  Less than a month later she came to me and said, "I should have done this sooner in my life.", from there funeral service became her life.  There are so many things I loved about Barbara Cannon ~ she was oh so feisty and independent, warm, witty and  a wonderful storyteller.  What I loved most about her was her character and integrity ~ there was no one better than this gentle, grace-filled woman.  Rest easy Barbara and go with God.

Today we celebrated the life of a very amazing woman, the stories shared and my personal memories reminds me of the very opportunity that living is. Grandma Barb had a way of lighting up, her eyebrows would rise, as if to say oh, my god you're finally here, anytime I walked into see her.  Today I got a real treat, I realized that this was her response to anyone entering her presence. She just had a way of making you feel as though you were the most important person in her life at that very moment. My love to all who had known her, may you take comfort in knowing that she is with some really cool people. G-Ma Gertie, Papa Bob and others, there is going to be one heck of a game of poop on your neighborhood going on.

Grandma Barb always made everyone around her feel special.  She was fun, sweet, kind and loving.  I always had the sense she would be the one who "had my back".  I have my rose-colored glasses with me!  Thank you, Grandma Barb.  Play with the angels.  Kathy Telford-Buchanan

Barbara was one of the most caring people I've met in funeral service and I've met so many.  I'll never be able to repay her kindness when I lost my mother and then my wife.  We were lucky to have Barbara in our lives.

Dear Family of Barbara ,
I am one of the hundreds of clergy women and men who was blessed to work with your beloved Mother.
She treated everyone with genuine concern and profound dignity . Whenever Barbara was the Ditector I knew the arrangements would be perfect and that my job would be so much easier .
We all looked up to her and she was a true gift to each of us. I will never walk through the doors of Arthur A. Wright Chapel without expecting to be greeted by her. Barbara will be missed by all of us and especially by all of you . Deep sympathy .
Rabbi James Mirel

I consider myself so lucky to have met Barbara at the beginning of my own funeral service career; I knew if I watched her and modeled my behavior and caring demeanor after hers, I would do well.  I have fond memories of the last Christmas party I attended with her when her white elephant gift was the hit of the evening!  Her boisterous laugh will be missed!

Our hearth cry and are full of sorrow.  We lost our best friend.  Barbara was unique and a real lady and we loved her very much.  She was part of our family and we have beautiful, joyful memories together.  Barbara will always have a special place in our heart and she will never be forgotten.  
Our deepest condolences to her family. 
Luisa, Walt, Antonio, Patrizia, Sara, Jayne, Barbara, Luca, and all her friends from Italy.

I remember mentoring Barbara as she moved into funeral service.  Barbara had a great heart.  She was a good lady with a strong determination for success.

Barbara inspired so many of her friends and family with her beautiful and warm personality.  She was a great writer as well as a great lady.  She had a lovely way of writing stories.  She definitely made life interesting with her wit.  I was blessed to know her.

Barbara was one of the reasons I became a funeral director myself. She was such an inspiration to me as a strong, compassionate (and fun) woman who started a new career later in life - at the age of 73! We will miss her and will strive to keep her legacy alive at Butterworth by providing excellent, compassionate care for our families.

What a sweet and caring woman Barbara was!  Exemplary in everything she did, Barbara was one of those special people who will remain with us in our hearts throughout life.  God bless you, dear Barbara, for giving us such respect.

OBITUARY

Barbara Marie Cannon

August 8, 1927 – August 31, 2017

Butterworth Funeral Home - Arthur A Wright Chapel & Queen Anne Columbarium

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