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Nov. 23, 1937 – Jan. 24, 2025
Barbara G. LaDuca of Grand Island died Jan. 24, 2025.
She was the greatly loved wife of Angelo F. LaDuca for 65 years; the cherished mother of Paul LaDuca and Vinnie Bonfante, Peter and Mary Beth LaDuca, Alan LaDuca and Laurie Hoefer, David and Beth LaDuca; and a longtime close friend of Emi Fuwa from Japan, who she treated as a daughter. She was loved by her grandchildren: Christopher and his wife Scotlynne; Matthew, Grace, Jonah, William, Philip and Joseph; and the children of Emi: Yuri and Nanase, who treated her as their American grandma. She was the daughter of Peter and Bertha Gugino; the sister of Susan and Dr. Joseph Cardamone and Marge and Dr. Eric DuMond.
Barbara was raised in Niagara Falls, graduated from Niagara Falls High School (Class of 1959), and graduated from Buffalo State Teachers College (Class of 1962). She taught at Niagara Falls 66th Street School for three years and retired from teaching at St. Edmonds Catholic School in Tonawanda after 18 years.
She was a longtime member of St. Edmonds Bishops Committee, the St. Stephens Prayer Group, the Grand Island Read & Feed Book Club, and was honored by Niagara County Hospice for her years of hospice volunteer work. Barbara was active in Kairos Prison Ministry, annually collected a large amount of school supplies for the Ladies of Charity, and had a project of collecting and distributing hundreds of children’s books for programs that assisted needy children. She was co-founder of The Almar Family Foundation, which was established to assist programs that help children in need.
Barbara was greatly loved by everyone who knew her. She loved to read, enjoyed travel to many foreign countries, and enjoyed communicating with many people on a regular basis.
The family will be present for visitation at the Kaiser Funeral Home, located at 1950 Whitehaven Road, Grand Island, from 2-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31. There will be a memorial service at St. Stephen R.C. Church, located at 2100 Baseline Road, on Saturday, Feb. 1.
Flowers are gratefully declined. If desired, memorial donations may be made to www.niagarahospice.org.
Please share online condolences at www.kaiserfuneral.com.