On April 7, 2021, Barbara Bruce Himes, known as “B” to all who knew and loved her best, passed away peacefully at age 81, after a valiant effort against an an aggressive illness. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA before finally settling in Madison, AL, B was the mother of three children, including daughter, Mary, who died at birth.
Barbara had a short career as a bookkeeper before marrying and then devoting most of her life to being an exceptional stay-at-home mom and homemaker. Part of the original “work from home” generation, she was an extraordinary wife and mother as based on the standards of that bygone era. She cared deeply for her family and neighbors, alike - not out of obligation, but because of who she was.
Back in the day, Barbara loved her weekly couples bowling night and monthly card club with her best girlfriends. It was considered a major social event just to sit on the front porch with gathering neighbors every summer evening to drink iced-tea and talk about the days events, no matter how trivial. More recently she was determined to master the internet and her iPad, read all of the books collected on her Kindle, and recently learned what the term “binge-watching” was and became a master during the year-long pandemic of 2020.
Barbara is survived by her eldest son, Lt. Col. Thomas Paul Himes, Jr., USAF, Retired, and his wife, Diana; her youngest daughter, Terry Lynn Hecker and her husband, Bill. She dearly loved all of her grandchildren, Emily Lynn Hecker, Matthew Dolfi Hecker and his fiancé, Bailee-Ryan, Thomas Joseph Himes, and bonus grandson, Nicholas Wyrtki. She is also survived by her two brothers, Louis Robert Bruce and his wife Peggy; Joseph John Bruce, Jr., and her niece, Nicole Christine Cone and her husband Jonathan, and great-nephews Henry and Oliver. She was preceded in death by her amazing parent’s, Joseph “Joker” Bruce and Adele Doris Dolfi Bruce, and beloved nephew Christopher Robert Bruce.
A Funeral mass will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Madison, AL on April 16 with visitation beginning at 11:00am and funeral Mass at 12:00 noon. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. John the Baptist Catholic School, 1057 Hughes Road, Madison, AL 35758.
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