Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

Obituary: Barbara Ann Anderson

Sat, Sep 29th 2018 07:00 am
March 11, 1938 - Sept. 20, 2018
Barbara Ann Anderson (née Leising), from Williamsville, spent much of her life between Grand Island and Ormond Beach, Florida. After brief respiratory and cardiac complications, Barbara passed unexpectedly on Sept. 20, 2018, to rejoin her late husband, Donald, after 19 years apart. Barb is survived by a family who loved her: five children, nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren, as well as three brothers and sisters.
On May 10, 1958, at St. Peter and Paul Church in Williamsville, Barb was married to Donald Anderson, with whom she remained physically until his passing on March 23, 1999, and spiritually forever. Together they had five children: Mark Anderson (Kim Beatty), Michael (Alma) Anderson, Pattie (Mark) Frentzel, Cathie (Bill) Shaw, and Carol Riley (Steve Reiger). While Barb loved the work she did in and for her community, nothing brought her more joy than her grandchildren: Ashley (Brian) Aligood, Lee (Nikki) Richard, Matthew (Julia) Riley, Tina Anderson, Andrew Anderson, John Frentzel, Justin Frentzel, Donny Anderson, and Patrick Anderson, as well as her great-grandchildren: Luke Aligood, Cecilia Kress, Landon Aligood, Declan Richard, Camille Racutt, and Danica Richard.
Barb grew up in Williamsville, attending Bishop Neumann High School. The first of five children born to the late Jim and Mary Leising, Barb was predeceased by her brother Dennis Leising and is survived by three siblings: Jean (Clemens) Braunscheidel, James (Leah) Leising, and Wayne (Kim) Leising. A devout Roman Catholic, born leader and matriarch, Barb spent her life in service of her family, friends, community and the church. As a parishioner of St. Stephen R.C. Church, Barb acted as bookkeeper, creator and director of the hot lunch program at St. Stephen School, chairwoman of the Neighbor Days Lawn Fete, and mastermind behind the church's Friday fish fries, which are an ongoing community tradition more than 40 years later. Barb was also a lifelong member of the Grand Island Fire Co.'s Ladies Auxiliary. She worked as a dispatcher for the GI Fire Co. and organized chowder sales, anniversary dinners, and meals for the firefighters. Her efforts and achievements did not go unnoticed; in her lifetime Barb received both the St. Joseph's Service Award and the Grand Island Citizen of the Year Award.
Possibly Barb's most recognized trait was her love of and penchant for cooking. In addition to all of the work she did in the kitchens of St. Stephen's and the fire company, she owned her own catering business. Friends and family knew her as a wonderful chef, and her cooking was the heart of hundreds of parties thrown by her and Donald from which no one left hungry and everyone, as was Barb's way, was made to feel like a part of the family.
Visitation was held Sept. 25 at Kaiser Funeral Home, 1950 Whitehaven Road. A Mass to celebrate her life was held Sept. 26 at St. Stephen R.C. Church, 2100 Baseline Road.
Memorial contributions are preferred to the Grand Island Fire Co., 2275 Baseline Road, Grand Island, NY; or Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 1014 N. Halifax Ave., Daytona Beach, FL, 32118.

Hometown News

View All News