Barbara Anne Martini of New Paltz passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, at the Woodland Pond Continuing Care Retirement Community. She was 95 years old.
Born Aug. 3, 1925, in Greensboro, North Carolina, she was the daughter of Edgar Ray and Mildred (Brown) Bond.
After attending Guilford College in Greensboro and earning her Bachelor’s degree in Home Economics at the age of 19, Barbara moved to New York City to experience the city and all its cultural offerings. She pursued a career working in art galleries, and it was in New York City where she met the love of her life, Francis E. (Frank} Martini.
On Aug. 25, 1951, Barbara and Frank were married in Greensboro, and they had 62 happy years together before his passing on Sept. 17, 2013.
Curious, funny, artistic and kind, she was a gentle soul who cherished her family. She saw something beautiful in everything and everyone around her and in anyone she met. Her sweet Southern charm and natural calm put people immediately at ease.
After raising her three children, Barbara pursued her passion for creating faux wood finishes under the tutelage of the artistic director of such finishes for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She also worked as a contributing editor at Family Circle Magazine where much of her artwork was featured.
In their retirement Barbara and Frank left Brooklyn for the peaceful mountains of Pennsylvania where they lived for 23 years. There she enjoyed new artistic endeavors including painting, quilting and chigiri-e (Japanese art made from torn paper).
She found spiritual fulfillment and a place to volunteer to help others at the Mountainhome United Methodist Church.
In June 2012 Barbara and Frank moved to Woodland Pond in New Paltz where they remained until their passing.
Their children will be forever grateful to the staff there for the kind, compassionate, and professional care they received until the end of their lives.
Survivors include her children: Francis E. Martini Jr. and his wife Terry of Annapolis, Maryland, Millie Martini Bratten and her husband John of Plano Texas, and Jeannette Santander and her husband Raymond of Monroe; and her grandchildren: Daniel Martini and his wife Kathleen Torre of Washington, D.C., Elizabeth Martini of Middletown and David Santander, Francis Santander and Samuel Santander of Monroe.
Those who would like to make a donation in Barbara’s name can do so to the Mountainhome United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 327, Mountainhome, Pa. 18342. The church phone number is (570) 595-2077.
Copeland-Hammerl Funeral Home in New Paltz is honored to assist Barbara’s family with the arrangements.