Barbara Marcato

Barbara Ann Marcato, February 5, 1925 - February 5, 2015 Born to the wonderful and loving parents; Charles and Lucile Baldrige of Northville, SD. She is survived by her loving sister Ruth and Our wonderful Uncle Pete of Chelsea, SD. Her older brother, Bob, died many years ago and she missed and loved him very much. She is also survived by our loving Aunt Annabelle and our "way cool" Uncle Pat of Bluffton, SC. Both Ruth and Annabelle were Barbara's best friends. She graduated from Northville High School, where even today, her picture hangs on the wall, then on to Northern Teachers College in Aberdeen, and then graduated in 1947 with a Bachelor of Arts from Denver University.  She was in the first graduating class in Airline Management. She joked "I got a degree and a husband all in one week. Barbara met our Dad at Denver University. Barbara's roommate came into her dorm room and said "there is a new guy who is down in the cafeteria". So Mom and this roommate went down the stairs so Mom could have a look. Mom said, "I took one look at your Dad and I went right back to our room and put on some makeup".  She said she came back down by herself and walked by Dad's table and said "welcome to D.U.!"  I've always wondered what Dad said? I do know he smiled and was very impressed. Dad asked Mom out twice and got shot down. Mom agreed the 3rd time around. Dad brought along his roommate, Borncy. Mom was shocked, but she said they all had a great time and she was back in her dorm by 10. On the 2nd date he took her ice skating at "The Pond" on the D.U. campus. From that night on they were a couple forever, who loved to dance. They married June 15th, 1948 at her folks home in Northville, SD.  They both loved, danced and laughed for 51 1/2 years. Our parents were the most happily married couple we knew. John and Barbara lived in many places on the Eastern Seaboard of America, including the Great Lakes area of Western, New York. Our father in his early career was a commercial deep sea diver, who dove in heavy gear to depths of over 300 Ft. for Maritime Construction and Inspection. In his later years with his maritime construction/engineering along with his Denver University degree, he became Project Manager on many large bridges, jetties, and seawall operations. Barbara loved to travel with Dad, and to meet new people along with finding a new church and bible group. Barbara and John had three "semi-normal" and 101% boys. Jim, the oldest, of Southern, CA. Jeff, in the middle, of Grand Junction, CO, past in 2012,  and Robbie, the youngest of Central, OR. All three loved and respected their parents very, very much. Better parents never lived! Barbara Marcato loved people and they loved her. Wow! From Woodstock and Glenford, New York, to South Dakota. Jekyll Island, Georgia to Bend, Oregon, and Colorado to California. She had a lot of way cool Christian sisters and funny amazing girl friends. Barbara loved to write letters to all her gal-pals and family. She loved her family,  all her relatives, her girlfriends, all 37 of our crazy dogs and cats, restoring antiques, apple pie and cheddar cheese, traveling, reading and sleeping in! If you are reading this, you know that Barbara Marcato cared about you and you cared about her. She had an amazing life that was full and rewarding. My brother, Jim and I would like to thank everyone who touched Mom's life. All of you made Mom who she was and she loved you for it. All her church groups, all the women and men of her Christian groups and all of the special Bible study buddies were so very important and loved by her. Thank you all! Jim and I want to give a special thanks to Hope West Hospice of Western Colorado, right here in Grand Junction. All three of the gals who came were very, very professional, caring and polite. Amazing! As Mom lay in her bed just a few hours before she passed, a wonderful nurse from Hospice walked around Mom's bed and looked up at Mom and Dad's wedding photo and said "Wow, Barbie and Ken".  My brother and I and the dog, too, all looked at each other and smiled. God was in the room and what a wonderful thing to say. We will never forget such kind words. Barbara Marcato died on her 90th birthday, in her four poster bed that she had refinished, in her own house that she loved, with both of her loving sons along with our cow-dog, Blaze. She sure loved that dog and Blaze loved her. She gave good treats!  A very special thank you goes out to Brown's Cremation Service here in Grand Junction. The day before Blaze and I went to get mom's ashes, I had dropped off a wooden box to put her ashes in. Mom grew up with the box that belonged to my Grandpa, Mom's dad, and it seemed perfect to be used for Mom's ashes. The next day, Blaze and I walk in and here they have Mom in a beautiful handmade bag in Grandpa's wooden box with a beautiful white bow. It's done real nice and real girly. Mom would have loved it. They even provided a loaf of fresh baked bread for me and the mutt. Wow! Well done, first class, another great memory about the worlds best Mom. Writing about my mother's life, here at the same dining room table she did her 4th grade home work on, has been one of the toughest things I've ever done. As I look around at the family photo's and her beloved antiques, I know that she has "Gone Home". She said she wanted that on her tombstone next to Dad and Jeff. Mom/Barbara would not want any of us to be sad. So if it helps...you can do what I do...look up and wink. She always was a good listener. Barbara Ann Marcato's Service: Monument Baptist Church, Saturday, March 7th at 11 a.m. 486 23 Road, Grand Junction, CO 81507. Website: www.moumentbaptistgj.org