Barbara J. Passarell

Barbara Passarell passed away peacefully on the morning of May 7th with her family by her side.

Barb was born September 8, 1957 to James and Marian Moore, growing up in Hulberton with siblings Carol, Bill and Gail. As a young girl, she especially treasured time with her grandmother Harriet Moore at the farm on Munger Road. In 1975, she graduated with the last class at the old Holley High School.

On April 21, 1979 Barb married Jim Passarell and they had 3 children: Matthew, Erica (John) Michaelson, and Daniel (Carine) Passarell. Barb was Nana to 3 grandchildren: Bennett, Claire, and Anthony whom she adored and loved spending time with.

Barb enjoyed taking care of many children and remained friends with their parents until her passing. She began work at the County Nursing Home and later transferred to Orleans Correctional Facility where she retired as Executive Department secretary in 2020. She also faithfully served Holy Family Parish as the bookkeeper for nineteen years.

Motherhood was her greatest joy and she took pride in her children’s accomplishments.
At various times, she played volleyball, softball, tennis, bowled, and golfed. Many of these were on teams with her wonderful friend Marian Gerhardy whom she met in high school. She also loved riding her motorcycle alongside her husband’s.

Barb’s creative mind was always evident, particularly with the tremendous quilts she took great pride in making. It was this creativity over the years which also transformed her house into a home. She maintained beautiful gardens and the excellent meals she prepared were always, as she said, “made with love.”

Barb was received into the Catholic Church in 1998 and learned that she shared a birthday – September 8th - with the Blessed Virgin Mary which helped solidify her decision to convert. Over the past 10 years she was a weekly communicant at the Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Latin Mass Community in Irondequoit while also attending Holy Family Parish in Albion. This year, she attended each of the three Easter Triduum Masses with her last being the Vigil Mass.

Throughout these past five months Barb inspired her family and friends with an optimism and faith while the effects of treatment or other conditions were evident. She did not complain and always focused on the well-being of others before herself.

Barb was very similar to her father in that both had a calming presence and possessed a quiet strength even in the most difficult of times. She was predeceased by him in 2021, and her brother Bill in 2020.

She is survived by her husband Jim, children: Matthew, Erica, and Daniel, grandchildren, son and daughter-in law, mother Marian, sisters Carol (Ray) Stern, Gail (Stephen) Tipton, along with sister in-laws Rebecca (late Gerry) Daniels and Deborah Passarell. And also, many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family is especially grateful to Father Richard Csizmar, Father Mark Noonan, Father Dennis Bonsignore, and Father Malachy Nwosu who provided Barb with the Sacraments in her final days.

The family is also thankful to the medical staff at Medina and Strong Memorial Hospitals.

Barb often referenced 1st Corinthians Chapter 2, verse 9: “But as it is written: That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love him.” Her family is confident Barb is now seeing the fulfillment of God’s promise to her.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday May 12, from 1:00-3:00 & 6:00-8:00pm at Christopher-Mitchell Funeral Home 21 W. Avenue Albion with a Mass of Christian Burial at Holy Family Parish on Wednesday May 13, at 9:00am. Interment will follow at Saint Joseph’s Cemetery, Albion.

Memorial contributions in Barb’s memory may be made to Holy Family Parish, 106 South Main Street in Albion or a Hospice provider of your preference.

To share a special memory of Barb, please visit www.mitchellfamilyfuneralhomes.