Barbara Gene Heller passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 17, at the age of 82.
Barbara was born in Merced on Jan. 10, 1941, daughter of Caesar and Antonia Muratore.
Barbara’s life was dedicated to her family and community. She raised her three sons until 1976 when she began work at Gonella Reality. She moved to Livingston High School as an attendance clerk in 1981 and found a great career supporting students and schools. She retired in 2003.
Barbara was an active member of the Atwater Women’s Club, a multi-year member of the Board of Directors of the Bloss House and Historical Society.
She most recently served on the Winton Cemetery Board for the past 10 years where she will be buried next to her husband and true love, Jim, who passed earlier this year.
Barbara’s interests and hobbies centered on supporting her children and grandchildren. She could be found at their sporting events regularly. She was an avid gardener and loved to prepare meals for her family. Her spaghetti sauce was the best in the world. Just ask her sons.
She is survived by her three sons, Jim III (Kathy), Randy (Diana), and Chris (Amy), 7 grandchildren, Spencer (Steven), James (Kyndel), Randall James, Nicole, Joshua, Lindsay, and Sophia, and great grandson James Harvey, brother Caesar Muratore, and sister-in-law Dorella Heller.
Barbara was preceded in death by her sister Sondra Wilkins and brother-in-law Brian Heller.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests any remembrances be donated to the City of Atwater Parks and Recreation Department for the maintenance of Heller Park.
Family and friends are invited to attend mass at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church on Friday, January 27 at 1:00 p.m. with a burial immediately following at the Winton Cemetery. A reception will be held after at the Italo Lodge in Merced. Arrangements entrusted to Wilson Family Funeral Chapel of Atwater.