Naomi Jean Fritzmeier Barber

It’s a new universe for us; life without Fritzie, Aunt Hema, Granny, Mom. Naomi Jean (Fritzie) Fritzmeier Barber died on May 13, 2018 at the Tidewell Bradenton Hospice House with her family at her side. Born in Quincy, IL, August 11, 1929 to Poppa (Theopholous) and Nana (Jeanette) Fritzmeier, she loved to share memories of her childhood in Quincy, growing up with her brothers Ted (Theodore) and Dick (Richard). She is predeceased by her parents, Nana and Poppa; her brothers, Ted and Dick; her husband, Dr. Kent Barber; and her niece, Chrissie. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Ted and Michelle, of Harpswell, Maine, her friend and sister-in-law, Janice of Bradenton, Florida; her grandchildren, Dustin, Samuel and Sydney; her great-grandson, Oliver; her nieces, Cathy and Amy; her nephews, Billy and Dickie and a plethora of grand-nieces and grand-nephews, Nathan, Duane, Annetta, Chloe, Theo and Janesse, plus the great-grands, Delaina, Lilah, Austin, Hudson, Waylon, Corvin and Christina Rose who provided an endless stream of joy, entertainment and support. She was a graduate of Blessing Hospital School of Nursing, class of 1950, and proud of her years as a surgical nurse. It was surgical nursing and the operating room that brought her to Dr. Kent W. Barber, who became her husband of 22 years. Family, by blood and by choice, was the source of her greatest joy. As soon as she met you, you were no longer a stranger. If you had time to listen, she would share stories about her parents, brothers, son, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. As her memory was failing, she could still identify the faces of her loved ones in the photographs she surrounded herself with. She was a bold woman, years ahead of her time. She was an advocate for the poor and underserved and knew “Black Lives Matter,” decades before it was a national movement. She believed in succulents; bathroom mirrors covered in photographs of loved ones so much that she couldn’t see her own reflection; sun bathing, even after she knew it was bad for her; cooking for her family; background music and divine intervention. She was short on patience, long on opinions, and always called it as she saw it; she will be sorely missed by all who loved her. The family would like to thank the staff of Sunny Bower, Blake Memorial Hospital – 4 South, and Tidewell Bradenton Hospice House for the loving care they provided to Fritzie at the end of her life. In lieu of flowers, please donate generously to Tidewell Hospice at tidewellhospice.org.

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Naomi Jean Fritzmeier Barber

August 11, 1929 - May 13, 2018