Barbara Pagliassotti

To Barbara Pagliassotti, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Barbara, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Barbara really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Barbara was born on May 12, 1957 at St. Luke's Hospital in Pasadena, California. Her parents were Byron and Velma Pagliassotti. Barbara was raised in West Covina, California. Even as a child, Barbara had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around her. She was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. She couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. She was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, she succeeded in entertaining her entire family.

Always a good playmate, Barbara was easygoing and fun loving. She managed to lighten the mood wherever she was, even during family squabbles. She seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Barbara managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Barbara was raised with three siblings. She had two older sisters, Marion and Loraine and one younger brother, John.

All of Barbara's playful good humor carried over into her childhood. She was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed her to be constantly on the go. As a result, Barbara experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited her very well. She took part in softball and swimming. She was a campfire girl.

Ask anyone who knew her from school and they would tell you that Barbara was a class “cut-up.” She didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Barbara simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of her friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Barbara, grades may not have been the most important thing to her, but she really did enjoy her school experience. Since experience was Barbara's best teacher. She enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Barbara graduated from West Covina High School in 1975. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was P E.

Barbara never actually encountered a stranger in her dealings with people. She was drawn to individuals and crowds, using her gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate her audience. This quality allowed Barbara to continually develop new relationships, ever widening her circle of friends. Barbara delighted in her role among all her acquaintances, because she viewed them all as potential spectators for her performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Barbara was always right at home putting on a show among her friends. Barbara utilized her interest in others as a great way to connect with them. Later in life, she became friends with Roberta Cuesta. Barbara loved sharing life and having her home filled with people she knew.

Perhaps the reason Barbara related so well to children was the fact that she never really completely grew up herself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped her in raising her own children. Barbara was blessed with one child, one son Nicholas. She was also blessed with one grandchild, Isabella Ann. Barbara had the ability to focus her attention on the present moment. If she was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of her attention was directed. Barbara's compassionate side prevented her from being a strict disciplinarian, and she could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. She could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Barbara had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

At work, as in life, Barbara was a real “people person. ” she had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and her enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Barbara liked to see herself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Barbara was an adaptable realist, using her common sense and trusting her experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Barbara's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around her to see Barbara as an excellent problem solver. Her primary occupation was customer service.

Barbara enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Barbara liked creating and making things. Her favorite pursuits were quilting and swimming. Barbara was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

Barbara felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if she wasn’t the best, Barbara loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Barbara relished the opportunities where she could make an impact, and she would often push herself to play above her abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Barbara never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. In high school, Barbara played softball. Recreational sports included swimming. Barbara was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were football.

Barbara had an endless appetite for new and different activities. She was always ready to join in the fun and add her flair and energy to an organization. Because of her personality, her humor, and her ability to get along with everyone, Barbara's service was greatly valued by the organizations to which she belonged. In high school, Barbara was a member of the cheerleading squad.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Barbara recognized that her faith was important to her throughout her life. During that time, she was a part of the quilting ministry.

Living life in the fast lane suited Barbara just fine. It is no surprise that she loved to travel and to visit new and different places. She was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. She was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included Newport Beach with family.

Barbara was a lover of animals and cherished her pets, enjoying them almost as much as she enjoyed being around other people. One of Barbara's favorites was Holly, a German Shepherd and Rosie the Rottweiler.

Barbara passed away on November 10, 2010 at San Dimas Hospital in San Dimas, California. She is survived by her parents, Velma and Byron, her son and daughter-in-law Nick and Karen, her granddaughter, Isabella Ann, her brother, John, her sisters, Marion and Loraine, her nieces and nephews, Lisa, Christine, Gina, Louie, Robby, Jack and John. Services were held at Custer Christiansen Chapel in Covina, California.

Barbara brought joy to all of those around her. She never had a mean bone in her body. She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She loved to share her energy, wit, and her zest for all of her activities with her friends and family. Barbara Pagliassotti lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her. She will be remembered with a smile.