Obituary for Barbara A. Hart
Barbara A. Hart passed away at home with her husband by her side on March 13, 2022. Barbara will be remembered as a vibrant woman who lived her life to the very fullest. She was witty and had a smile that lit up a room. She had a beautiful voice and you could hear her singing anywhere and everywhere she went. Barbara had a kind heart, an infectious laugh, and was always ready and willing to offer a helping hand. She had many friends and had a fierce love of family. She lived life in a way that we all should strive to. Barbara never missed an opportunity to travel, go out with friends, or gather with family. She lived her life so as not to waste a single second of it.
Barbara was born on November 27, 1955 in Torrington, CT. She was the second of four children born to William and Genevieve Pietrefase. She grew up in Torrington and attended the Torrington Public School System graduating in 1973 from Torrington High School. She married the love of her life, Gregory Hart, in 1977, started a family, and stayed home to raise her two children. While doing so, she worked day and night to earn an Associates Degree from Northwestern Connecticut Community College in Early Childhood Education. Barbara then went on to teach pre-school at Little Brick School in Litchfield, CT for many years. She loved the children she taught there as her own and enjoyed running into them in town as they grew up. She then moved onto the position of Administrative Assistant at Litchfield High School. She enjoyed working in the main office and made many friends there but the best part of the job was being able to see her children and their friends at school each day as they completed their high school years. She spent a lot of time chatting and laughing with them and became like a second mother, or “mere” as they called her, to many of them. It was an experience that her children will cherish forever. She then moved on to an Administrative Assistant position in the Guidance Office at Wamogo High School and brought her laughter and singing to all of them. She officially retired in the Summer of 2020. Upon her retirement, she was described as the “main reason the cogs keep turning so smoothly in the School Counseling Office. She gives 100% of her heart and soul and we love her for it. We will miss her humor, her honesty, and most of all, her singing.”
Barbara loved to sing and all those around her loved to hear her beautiful voice. She recently spent time singing with the Our Lady of Hope Parish Choir in Harwinton, CT. Barbara was also an amazing artist. After she retired she set up an art studio in her home and finally had the time to resume oil painting primarily of landscapes. She had a natural artistic gift. Before she fell ill, she was able to paint pictures for her children. Barbara loved taking walks and spent a lot of time walking the streets and woods of her beloved town of Litchfield with her husband. If the weather wasn’t great, you could find her exercising daily in her home gym. She loved visiting her son and his family for dinner often and spent many hours strolling Target and Barnes and Noble with her daughter and her children. She was always excited to spend time with her grandchildren no matter the occasion. On weekends, you’d find Barb at a local vineyard or dining at the Torrington Country Club. She loved to travel as well. Her favorite spots were Maine, Marco Island, and Turks and Caicos. She loved the beach!
Above all, Barbara treasured and adored her family. She is survived by her husband and soul mate, Gregory Hart, her daughter Kathryn Beach and her husband Christopher, her son Christopher Hart and his wife Christine. She also leaves behind the seven lights of her life of whom she was so proud, her seven beloved grandchildren, Caelan, Timothy, Ethan, and Mason Hart and Madden, Caleb, and Harper Beach. They adored their Nana and will miss her dearly. She is also survived by her parents William and Genevieve Pietrefase and her three siblings Debbie Gutowski, Clarice Tronina, and William Pietrefase. Barbara also leaves behind her in-laws, as well as many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and an abundance of friends.
The family would like to offer a thank you to the Hartford Healthcare Hospice Team. And a special thank you to CNA Patricia Cable for her care and compassion.
Calling hours will be held on Sunday, March 20 from 3-7 pm at Thurston Rowe Funeral Home, 283 Torrington Road, Litchfield, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, March 21 at 11 am at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 49 South St, Litchfield, CT. Burial will follow in St. Anthony Cemetery, Litchfield.
Memorial donations can be made to the Glioblastoma Foundation, P.O. Box 62066, Durham, NC 27715 or online at glioblastomafoundation.org.
Barbara was born on November 27, 1955 in Torrington, CT. She was the second of four children born to William and Genevieve Pietrefase. She grew up in Torrington and attended the Torrington Public School System graduating in 1973 from Torrington High School. She married the love of her life, Gregory Hart, in 1977, started a family, and stayed home to raise her two children. While doing so, she worked day and night to earn an Associates Degree from Northwestern Connecticut Community College in Early Childhood Education. Barbara then went on to teach pre-school at Little Brick School in Litchfield, CT for many years. She loved the children she taught there as her own and enjoyed running into them in town as they grew up. She then moved onto the position of Administrative Assistant at Litchfield High School. She enjoyed working in the main office and made many friends there but the best part of the job was being able to see her children and their friends at school each day as they completed their high school years. She spent a lot of time chatting and laughing with them and became like a second mother, or “mere” as they called her, to many of them. It was an experience that her children will cherish forever. She then moved on to an Administrative Assistant position in the Guidance Office at Wamogo High School and brought her laughter and singing to all of them. She officially retired in the Summer of 2020. Upon her retirement, she was described as the “main reason the cogs keep turning so smoothly in the School Counseling Office. She gives 100% of her heart and soul and we love her for it. We will miss her humor, her honesty, and most of all, her singing.”
Barbara loved to sing and all those around her loved to hear her beautiful voice. She recently spent time singing with the Our Lady of Hope Parish Choir in Harwinton, CT. Barbara was also an amazing artist. After she retired she set up an art studio in her home and finally had the time to resume oil painting primarily of landscapes. She had a natural artistic gift. Before she fell ill, she was able to paint pictures for her children. Barbara loved taking walks and spent a lot of time walking the streets and woods of her beloved town of Litchfield with her husband. If the weather wasn’t great, you could find her exercising daily in her home gym. She loved visiting her son and his family for dinner often and spent many hours strolling Target and Barnes and Noble with her daughter and her children. She was always excited to spend time with her grandchildren no matter the occasion. On weekends, you’d find Barb at a local vineyard or dining at the Torrington Country Club. She loved to travel as well. Her favorite spots were Maine, Marco Island, and Turks and Caicos. She loved the beach!
Above all, Barbara treasured and adored her family. She is survived by her husband and soul mate, Gregory Hart, her daughter Kathryn Beach and her husband Christopher, her son Christopher Hart and his wife Christine. She also leaves behind the seven lights of her life of whom she was so proud, her seven beloved grandchildren, Caelan, Timothy, Ethan, and Mason Hart and Madden, Caleb, and Harper Beach. They adored their Nana and will miss her dearly. She is also survived by her parents William and Genevieve Pietrefase and her three siblings Debbie Gutowski, Clarice Tronina, and William Pietrefase. Barbara also leaves behind her in-laws, as well as many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and an abundance of friends.
The family would like to offer a thank you to the Hartford Healthcare Hospice Team. And a special thank you to CNA Patricia Cable for her care and compassion.
Calling hours will be held on Sunday, March 20 from 3-7 pm at Thurston Rowe Funeral Home, 283 Torrington Road, Litchfield, CT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, March 21 at 11 am at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 49 South St, Litchfield, CT. Burial will follow in St. Anthony Cemetery, Litchfield.
Memorial donations can be made to the Glioblastoma Foundation, P.O. Box 62066, Durham, NC 27715 or online at glioblastomafoundation.org.