Lois Victoria Barberis

Our mother, Lois Victoria Barberis, passed away peacefully on May 18, 2011 surrounded by her family. She was born May 3, 1945 in a Japanese Internment Camp in Weihsien China. American Soldiers rescued Lois, her mother Denyse, Brother Jeff and Sister Dee Dee on August 12, 1945. Her father Julius was held prisoner for another 8 years. After being rescued the Red Cross put them on a boat to San Francisco, CA. On the boat our grandmother met a family that lived in Middletown. Our mom and her family traveled through Calistoga to visit them and decided Calistoga was were they would live. When our mother was a young girl she met our father Robert Barberis working in his families grocery store, Ding’s Food Center. She told our grandmother “Someday I’m going to marry him!” She lived in Calistoga and attended the elementary school until she was 8. Shortly after our grandfather was released they all moved to Beirut Lebanon. She came back to Calistoga off and on until their family moved back to Calistoga permanently in the early 60’s. She remet our father, fell in love and they were married on February 29, 1964. She had 4 children in a span of 4 years and 2 ½ months. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother. She dedicated her life to her family.

She helped start the Cooperative Preschool in Calistoga; She was a volunteer Red Cross Swimming Instructor. She spent countless hours volunteering for everything. She was on the Calistoga Wildcat Boosters Board for many years and she was a life member of Soroptimist International of Calistoga.

She was predeceased by her loving husband of 45 years Robert N Barberis and is survived by her children Misti Harrell(Paul), Debbie Barberis, Patsy Barberis and Robert Barberis Jr.(Kristen), her grandchildren Hailey and Orion Harrell, Kaleo Garrigan and RJ Barberis, her brother Jeff Thomson and sister Dee Dee Butler and many nieces and nephews.

Lois loved entertaining and having lots of people around so in honor of that a celebration of her life will be held at 1:00 on Monday May 30 at the family home. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the March of Dimes or Napa Valley Hospice.

Arrangements under the direction of Morrison Funeral Chapel, St. Helena, CA.