Barb Jean Newman's Obituary
Barb Newman of Remus, passed away on January 11, 2023, after a short battle with cancer. Barb was born on April 14, 1959, in Clare, MI to Camiel and Mildred Vanacker. She attended Clare High School. On March 22, 1980, she married Dave Newman and the two happily enjoyed 43 years of marriage. They had two daughters, Kelly and Kimberly. Barb spent most of her career working for Mt. Pleasant and Shepherd schools as a para pro and in food service. Barb enjoyed traveling, camping, painting, and spending time with her sisters. She could usually be found in the kitchen cooking and baking cakes, cookies, and desserts, which she loved to share with family and friends. Barb was very proud of her and Dave’s new house in the woods that they moved to three years ago. She enjoyed many daily walks in their woods and loved being surrounded by nature, but her greatest joy in life was being a grandma to Kimmy and Natalie.
Barb is survived by her husband, Dave; daughter, Kelly (Matt) Schroder; granddaughters, Kimmy and Natalie Schroder; Mother, Mildred Vanacker; sisters, Chris (Joel) Laverty, Mary (Mark) Todd, and Sue (Paul) Rocheleau and Ann Vanacker; brothers Mark (Shelly) Vanacker, Carl Vanacker; mother-in-law, Loni Newman; brothers-in-law, Steve (Brenda) Newman, and Brian (Heather) Newman, and sister-in-law, Marni Beutler.
Barb joins her daughter, Kimberly Newman; sister, Cindy Vanacker, and father, Camiel Vanacker in eternal rest.
A funeral Mass will be held in Barb’s honor Monday, January 16, 2023, at 11:00 am, at St. Michael Catholic Church in Remus, with Father Tom Boufford as Celebrant. Visitation will take place at Janowicz Family Funeral Home in Remus on Sunday from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, and again Monday morning from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at the church. Burial will follow in St. Michael Cemetery.
Those desiring may direct memorial contributions to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, in lieu of flowers.
Friends may share a memory with the family at the funeral home, church, or online at JanowiczFH.com
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