Barbara Ann Reidenbach Castaldi

The daughter of Ernest and Perlena Reidenbach, she was born August 20, 1929 and raised in Wheelersburg, Ohio, along the Ohio River. Her first visit to Ravenna occurred during the 1937 flood, when she and her sister, Phyllis, were sent to stay with relatives while her hometown was under water.

Barbara was a 1950 graduate of The Christ Hospital School of Nursing and worked in Cincinnati for the Visiting Nurse Association. It was during her time in Cincinnati that she met and married Louis Vincent Castaldi. Dr. and Mrs. Castaldi moved to Ravenna so that Dr. Castaldi could start his practice of medicine. After her children were raised, Barb returned to work, running her husband’s office. Shortly after he retired from medicine, the couple moved to Bonita Springs, Florida, where they enjoyed golf, the sun and, most importantly for Barb, combing the beaches for shells. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2006. Barb returned to Ravenna to be near family after husband’s death in August, 2008.

Barb always had a twinkle in her eye—and a ready smile and laugh. She was always game to try something new. She took up skiing in her 30s, golf in her 40s and fell in love with the beaches of southwest Florida and ‘the art of shelling’ in her 50s—an art that she cultivated until she left Florida.

The center of Barb’s life was always her family and she was never happier than when surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. “Nona”, as she was known by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, could always be counted on to make them laugh and spoil them rotten.

Besides her husband, Louis, she was preceded in death by her parents and sister. She is survived by her children, John (Terry Bazeley) Castaldi, of Cincinnati, Lisa (Doug) Karaffa, of Ravenna, Kay (David) MacVicar, of Seattle and Jane (Jay) Ladd and Tia Castaldi, both of Ravenna, as well as grandchildren Justin Castaldi, Kelly and Tony Karaffa, Michael and Emily Ladd, Matthew and Louis MacVicar, along with great-grandchildren Gianni and Cienna Jo Castaldi.

There will be no public service. The family requests any memorials be made to The Alzheimer’s Association, Greater East Ohio Area, 1815 West Market Street, Suite 301, Akron, Ohio 44313, or Robinson Visiting Nurse & Hospice, c/o Robinson Memorial Hospital Foundation, 6847 N. Chestnut Street, PO Box 1204, Ravenna, Ohio 44266. Special thanks to the staff at Emeritus of Ravenna for their compassion and loving care. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.wood-kortright-borkoski.com.

(Wood-Kortright-Borkoski 330-296-6436)