Barbara Helen Werner
Barbara Helen Werner (née) Piercy of Butler passed away Dec. 4, 2015.
She was born Aug. 30, 1927, in Henley-on-Thames, England, to George and Eliza Piercy.
Barbara was baptized in the 13th century nave of The Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Henley. Barbara spent her first 18 years of life attending school and growing up in England. She loved her village and regaled many stories of her family and friends during World War II. Despite the horrors of the war, she thought those years were “the best times of her life.”
Her brothers called her Titch, and her best friend called her Babs. Barbara played the piano, sang and acted in live stage productions.
She worked at the Odeon Theatre where she met the “love of her life,” Howard E. Werner, in 1944. While Howard was away for the war, Barbara took classes to convert to Catholicism. The couple married the following year at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Henley in June 1945. The war had just ended and the couple stayed in England for Howard to attend the University of Shrivenham.
As a GI war bride, Barbara immigrated to the U.S. and arrived on the John Ericcson in the spring of 1946. Howard met her at the port of New York City to begin their life together.
Barbara became a U.S. citizen in 1954 and relished the right to vote. Her U.S. life was spent living in Western Pennsylvania, but she was able to travel to 48 states, Canada, France and Puerto Rico. She loved this country and all her life-long friends, but she was truly a Brit at heart. Not a day went by without a “cuppa.” She was a member of Transatlantic Brides and Parents Association — “A British Heritage Society” and St. Fidelis Church.
She enjoyed knitting and playing cards. In her younger years, she was an excellent seamstress. She loved to read Catherine Cookson books as they reflected life in England. According to her grandchildren, she made the “best chocolate chip cookies.” She was predominantly a homemaker, but held various jobs throughout her life.
Everyone who met her loved her accent, although she would always say she was from Texas. Her British humor always shined. She returned to her beloved home country many times and even lived there briefly with Howard and her three oldest children.
Barbara's memory was keen and if someone didn't remember something, she certainly could. She and Howard raised four children, Darlene, Roy, Kempton and Christine. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and could never stop talking about their successes.
She is survived by children, Darlene (Ronald) Geibel of Saxonburg, Roy (Barbara) Werner of Sewickly, Kempton (Susan) Werner of Renfrew and Christine (Dr. David) Scheck of Tulsa, Okla.; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Emily and Vanessa Werner of Renfrew, Deborah Hines of Pittsburgh, Susan and Mark McLafferty — children, Sarah, Megan and Matthew of Worthington, Daniel and Taryn Hines — children, Sydney and Landon of Mercer, Amy and Eric Miller — children Jacob and Ava of Buford, Ga., Shaun and Hope Werner — children Alexis and Rachael of McMurray, Drs. Scot and Brenda Werner — children Jason and Javier of McDonough, Ga., Stephen and Colleen Werner — children Miles and Paige of Ocean, N.J., and Simon and Ling Werner — children Benjamin and Abigail of Rochester, Minn.; many nieces and nephews in the U.S. and England and all her friends throughout the world.
She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 41 years, Howard; her parents, and her siblings, Dorie, Fred, Ivy, George and Bill.
Sr.
WERNER — Visitation and viewing for Barbara Helen Werner (née) Piercy, who died Friday, Dec. 4, 2015, will be Saturday, Dec. 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 13 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, 124 E. North St., Butler. A prayer service will be at the funeral home on Sunday at 3 p.m.A funeral mass will be Monday, Dec. 14 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Fidelis Church, 125 Buttercup Road, Butler.In her death, Barbara wishes to return to England where she will rest with her parents at Fairmile Cemetery, Henley.Special thanks to Dr. Karen Schogel, Dr. Katherine Ke, VNA Hospice and all her caregivers over the past 19 months, especially those who made Barbara's end-of-life comfortable and dignified.“Where we love is home, home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.” Oliver Wendell Holmes,
