Barbara Ann (Tobis) Zymet

Barbara Ann (Tobis) Zymet of Stoneham, MA, formerly of Ossining, NY - where she lived most of her adult life, raised her three children, loved her husband, cherished her friends and nurtured her garden – died after a brief illness, surrounded by family, on January 9th, 2023.

Born in Des Moines, IA in 1945, she was the daughter of the late Harry and Celia Tobis and big sister to Jill Mandelbaum, Shelli Tobis and Samuel Tobis. She was preceded in death by her husband Carl, and is survived by her children Matthew Zymet, Gregory Zymet and daughter-in-law Heidi, and Mara (Zymet) Bangura and son-in-law Kapr. She was the doting and beloved “Gramma” to grandchildren Lulu Zymet, Mateo Zymet and Elke Bangura.

Gardening was the bright through line in Barbara’s life – from helping her father in the family garden back in Des Moines, to her yard-sized garden in New York, to the impressive garden she started after moving in with her daughter’s family in Massachusetts. But it is also how she lived – nurturing and encouraging, planting seeds and helping them to grow – both in her garden, and in those around her and in those she loved. In her early career as a middle-school Art Teacher, she nurtured and grew children’s creativity and taught that creativity was accessible to anyone. She encouraged in her own children a confidence in their imaginations and a love for creating.

Barbara was an amazing artist in her own right. She was so many things. She was creative, and tough, and stubborn. But most of all she was generous and kind. She put the needs of others always ahead of her own. She wasn’t fancy, she wasn’t pretentious, and she didn’t mind the idea of getting her hands dirty – whether in her garden, or to set things right. She was just so happy to be cultivating, growing, and nurturing. So joyous to be feeding her family, literally, with the fruit of her labor.

Barbara’s garden at her daughter’s home in Massachusetts is a living testament to how she lived and what she held dear. It will continue to be tended by her family as a place to celebrate and remember her.

Barbara was laid to rest at Sharon Gardens in Valhalla, NY on Sunday, January 15, 2023.

Remembrances and memorial contributions can be made to The Nature Conservancy: https://preserve.nature.org/page/81523/donate/1