Barbara Joan Wickel

She was born February 22, 1945, in New York City, the daughter of David and Olga Schwartz.

Barbara was a tough cookie, and she’d have said it herself with a little pride. She enjoyed making things for others, that was how she showed her love and appreciation. She loved to cook. For everyone. Holidays, ordinary Tuesdays, whoever happened to come through the door. Nobody left Barbara’s table hungry, and nobody left without leftovers. At Christmas she baked cookies in quantities that made no earthly sense. Tins and tins of them, far more than any one family could ever eat. There were always enough for the neighbors, the person who stopped by unannounced, and whoever else she’d decided to gift with some holiday sweets. She enjoyed crafting and making seasonal wreaths for her front door and yours. She loved watching birds at her bird feeder, but most of all she enjoyed a good pool day.

When her girls were young she was at the school for everything. PTA, fundraisers, and class parties. She

In the 1990s she went back to school for herself and earned her Associate’s Degree from Keystone Junior College in LaPlume, Pennsylvania. She was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, and she was proud of that — rightly so. She was employed by Specialty Records until her retirement.

After living most of her life in Moscow, Pennsylvania, Barbara moved to Central Florida in 2019. She attended LifePointe Church in Eustis, Florida.

She loved her husband Wayne unconditionally. She was especially close with her grandson Nicholas. He was her chauffeur, lunch date, personal shopper, and IT department for remote control issues and lost passwords.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Wickel; son Frank Spatafora, two granddaughters she adored, Cassandra Shoffner and Aria Portonova, and son-in-law Paul Portonova.

She is survived by her daughters, Barbara Lynn Berlin (Mike) of Middleburg, NY, Sandralee Potter (David) of Madisonville, Pennsylvania, and Nadine Walker (Jim) of Eustis, Florida; her sister, Maria Cousoulas of Newfoundland, New Jersey; her grandchildren, Anthony, Heather, Darlene, Terry, Marlee, Tori, David, Shay, Nicholas, Elizabeth, Maisey, and Joshua; and two great-grandchildren.

There will be no service. Instead, the family asks that you remember her the way she would have liked best — make something with your hands, feed someone more than they can eat, or sit in the sun a while and watch the birds.

Memorial donations in her name may be made to LifePointe Church 3551 E. Orange Avenue Eustis, Florida 32736