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Anna "Annie" Barber, 100 , a resident of Albuquerque since 1959, passed away Friday, February 20, 2009 at her home surrounded by her family. Anna was born May 16, 1908 in Clintonville, PA, the youngest of six children born to William and Mary Feltz. She was a loving daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother and friend. She is survived by her two daughters MaryLou and Linda; her grandchildren, Randy, Hal, Penny, Teri, Scott, Dena, Beth-Ellen and of course Holly, who adopted Annie as her grandma over 40 years ago. She had ten great-grandchildren; six great-great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; great-nieces and great-nephews. Annie was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Clair Barber; her mother and father; three sisters; and two brothers. Anna retired from the First National Bank in Albuquerque in 1970, where she had worked since coming to New Mexico in 1959. She was stricken with Polio at the age of two. Although she was handicapped, she lived her life fully and accomplished everything she wanted, except dancing and walking with her children while holding their hands. At the age of 12, she had a chance meeting with a bank officer who was so impressed by her drive and personality that he became her sponsor, giving her the opportunity to attend a school in Toledo, Ohio designed specifically for children who had been stricken with Polio. After that she became a "model" for the "Hire the Handicapped" program when it was on the ground floor. She traveled all over the state of Ohio with this program demonstrating what great workers people with special needs could be. She applied for a job at Willy's Motors in Toledo and was told that there were no jobs for her there. Nevertheless, she went every morning and sat all day in the personnel office until they finally decided to give her a chance in their typing pool. She worked there for 35 years, advancing all the while. Annie will be deeply missed. She inspired everyone who was lucky enough to meet her. Somehow she made you want to be a better person. Even though she had many obstacles in her life, she always moved forward. She followed the news and politics right up until the end and voted in every presidential election from the time women were given the right to vote including the 2008 Presidential election. She was born a fighter; no challenge was ever too much. Annie believed that anything could be accomplished with determination and hard work. She was privileged to have a great mind right up to the end. Annie's family wants to give a special thanks to Rose Najera, her loving caregiver for the last seven years of her life, and also to Rose's husband Monce, who did ever so many special things for her. Rose was more than her caregiver; she was family to all of us. We would also like to give a special thanks to the "Out to Lunch Bunch"; her friends that got together once a month, to have a meal and "gab"; and also to her best friends, Patsy and Nadine, and their families who remained close until the end. Also, thanks to the Ambercare Hospice team, Denise, Julie, April and Robert Clayborn, the Hospice Chaplain. Thanks are not enough to express what they did for her and for our family in these trying times. Annie always said that in her next life she wanted to be a dancer. "Dance on Annie, we will remember you always." Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of her Life will be held at French Mortuary, Lomas Blvd. Chapel, Friday, March 27, 2009, 3:30 p.m. All are welcome and are encouraged to share any special memories of Annie with us. Annie's cremated remains will be placed with her husband's at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Ambercare Hospice Foundation, 2129 Osuna Rd. NE, Albuquerque 87113. Please visit our online guestbook for Annie at RememberTheirStory.com French 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE (505) 275-3500
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