Contributions to the tribute of Barbara Marie Hartman

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Stacey Pfatenhauer uploaded photo(s)

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

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Mom always having fun with her family and on our cruises.

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Stacey Pfatenhauer posted a condolence

Sunday, January 1, 2023

Memories of Mom My mom was always there for me and my brothers. She was a stay at home mom and wife. She and my dad moved into their first home in a newly built neighborhood, which was the last house on Brand Blvd. when I was 6 months old.Whatever dream that popped into my little head, she made sure to equip me with whatever it took to help me succeed--to learn piano, piano lessons, to learn to dance, pursue photography later in life. She always found the money in the family budget for me. I remember as a child, every summer she'd take me and my brothers to all the fun places like Pacific Ocean Park, Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, Marineland, the Los Angeles Zoo, the Train Museum, the little train ride in Griffith Park and the Carousel, and her favorite of all--the movie theater. Even as a young girl and the baby of the family, her mother, Grandma Dollie, would take Mom to the theater to watch movies every weekend. She absolutely loved going to the movies. Her mother was an angel, Mom absolutely loved her brother Donald, and her oldest sister, Frieda.Mom told me about when she was a young girl, she saved money for months to buy herself a bible, and enjoyed going to church with her mom every Sunday. Mom's parents worked on an orange grove in Granada Hills, owned by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnes, and on weekends Mom would help them pick oranges. Mom loved her neighbors wherever we lived because she was a great hostess, fun and sweet. They would play cards and have parties and raise their children on Brand Boulevard in the Valley in the 50's and on when life was safe, all us kids would ride bikes, skateboards, and play hide and seek in our street until dark and after when times were innocent and safe. A funny story is when this beautiful, sweet woman would turn into a mother hen if anyone hurt or picked on any of her three children. She was furious defending her little chicks, usually with her garden hose on high, spraying down anyone who hurt us. Mom was a superb seamstress. She made me the most beautiful dresses back in the day when all girls had to wear dresses to school. No pants or jeans allowed until high school. In the late 60's she made me the coolest bell bottoms (like Cher's of Sonny and Cher) with rows of ruffles. She also taught me to sew at age 8. I used to love our alone time when we would go to JC Penneys in the San Fernando mall to pick out patterns and fabric on the basement floor of the two story store. Mom won a Butterick Pattern Co., award for the grey 2 piece suit with matching hat she made and modeled for professional photographs. It was so stylish, and she was definitely pretty enough to be a professional model! Mom also volunteered and was a member of the Women's Club of San Fernando because she loved socializing. She was the mom who ran the San Fernando Park snack bar. She could not say no, so she was in that snack bar for years! When I was a Brownie, she was one of the leaders. When I played softball at the park, she made all 12 girls uniforms. She was a "Good Girl Scout", always doing the right thing and doing for her family, her in-laws, and others, She was very close with her sister Frieda, and we were lucky enuf to live within walking distance to Aunt Frieda's house, Grandma Billie's house, and other aunts and uncles and even great-grandparents and great aunts. We spent lots of time with them growing up, and especially on holidays. Of course, Mom was always the most helpful at all the parties, always pitching in. When I decided to transfer from San Fernando Jr. High to Porter Junior High in Granada Hills, she made it happen and was completely supportive. Now, when I think back, I realize this kind hearted woman would drive me across town on weekends to Granada Hills so I could visit and play with the friends I made at Porter JH every time I asked, with that big, bright smile of hers. She never said no. She would even drive me to my 9th grade boyfriend's house, pick him up, bring us back to our house after school to visit, and then drive him home without a look or blink of her hazel eyes. She was so kind and nice to all my friends, and they all adored her. Mom was really fun, loved to party, dance and play cards with friends her whole life. She threw great parties. Of course, my brothers and I had really cute birthday parties in our backyard every year growing up in those innocent years. Also, Mom and Dad loved to bowl, so my brothers and I spent a lot of time at the bowling alley while they played in leagues. We ran around, and played pinball. She had this run when delivering the ball down the ally that I said she looked like a graceful horse. Needless to say, Mom was loved by all. That smile... She was very good to Dad's parents, and she insisted they travel with our family when I was 13, to Hawaii. She also invited Aunt Freida's daughter, Lynda, who was my playmate to go along. That Hawaiian trip was the trip of a lifetime. She allowed me to go to the Who concert in Waikiki one night of our week's stay with cousin Lynda, who was 18, and she always let me spread my wings and to become an independent, educated young woman some day, able to get a good job and support myself. The times they were a changing. She taught me to spell, testing me in the little kitchen every night for Friday's spelling tests. That was "our precious time" together. Mom loved to cook and bake. It was remarkable that each of us kids were picky eaters, and she would everything that each of us would eat for dinner. We would sit around the kitchen table that attached to the stove and eat together every night. Those were the good ole days, before TV dinners, TV trays, and color TVs, which we bought just as soon as they came out, and the first on the block. So, the precious times she and I would have at that kitchen table, changed from dinner to her helping me with my homework, of her making me my favorite sandwich--peanut butter and bacon. She was never too busy to fry up the bacon, and make me a sandwich. Since Grandma and Granddaddy built a swimming pool at their house 10 houses west of our house, Mom would take us swimming at their pool quite often. She was always willing to be our lifeguard, as the rule was there always had to be an adult watching us kids swim. I will never forget the time when my little brother, Steve, was still in a lifejacket. He walked to the deep end, took off his lifejacket, and jumped into the pool! Mom, within nano seconds, with hair in curlers, cigarette lit, sunglasses on, and a hat, drove into that pool to safe her baby. He actually swam just fine, but that was news to all of us! When I was a teenager, she made sure Dad taught me how to drive (she quit being my instructor when I was driving the Ford Torino on Laurel Canyon, and pulled out to the street--going the wrong way) Dad taught me, and she took me on my 16th birthday up the street to the DMV for my driver's license driving and written test. I passed with flying colors. Then she and Dad bought me a used car from the neighbor, Mr. Smith. After that car broke down, they bought me Grandaddy's little white Buick. She gave me freedom and gas money. I was able to drive my girlfriends to school at Sylmar High. She made sure I always had wheels. Mom helped and encouraged me to study hard and become an independent woman, so I became a legal secretary eventually after college. My love for photography she supported completely, she got me a camera, and whenever I needed money for supplies, she never said no. When I got married, Mom threw the wedding and reception, and she found us the perfect little house on Huntingyon Street just off Glenoaks. It was only six blocks from my childhood home, with Aunt Frieda and Grandma Billie's houses in between. My son was born the day after Christmas, and Mom was in the waiting room with my husband. Christopher was Mom's first grandchild, and would be her only grandson, with 4 granddaughters to come along much later. From that day forward she supported and over that baby with everything she had until the end of her life 49 years later. Mom always helped me. She babysat, threw me baby showers, she visited us or we visited her almost daily. My mom became my best friend. She, baby Christopher, and I would go shopping every week before I started to work as a legal secretary full time when he was one. When Chris was 3 1/2 years old, he began to ride motocross like his dad and uncles. She went to all his races. When my little family moved to Las Vegas, a five hour drive from home, I didn't realize we broke her heart by moving away, and she never said anything to let on she was crushed. That was Mom, everything for her family--selfless. Mom drove to Vegas to visit often, She and Dad always loved Vegas, They got married there. She really liked playing the lots and going to the shows on The Strip. I often traveled to see her too. I was homesick for Mom and Dad. Mom always showed up. She never left us. She and Dad traveled to all od Chris's motocross races, and then followed his baseball career religiously, traveling to Lake Tahoe or to Albuquerque, New Mexico to support their only grandson.Holidays at Mom's always special, especially Christmas,. Over the years she handmade felt with sequins stockings for every member of her growing family. It was cute that she always called her granddaughter first born Stacey. That would fluster her, and she'd say laughing "Whoever you are" , and she was so cute. Mom was so excited to move to the beach and get out of The Valley when they did. I remember she would often tell me "I feel so lucky to live here." Through the years as far back as I can remember, Mom and Dad would take vacations and traveled extensively until the end of their lives. They loved cruising. She would be the one organizing all trips for she and Dad, and friends, and girls' trips. Mom loved a good time. She made dozens of friends art the beach. They would travel together to Mexico, Hawaii, and she'd always invite me, and I'd go if I could get off work. Mom always sponsored me because she knew I didn't have any money being a single parent. She was so much fun--the life of the party, she was!!! And she would help anyone in need, having come from a very humble family. She was a loyal friend to all her girlfriends. Later, through the years Mom and Dad would invite me to cruise with them. We always had fun, and I photographed our trips. I will never, ever forget our Transatlantic trip to England, France, Ireland, Newfoundland, and finally the cool city of Boston. It was a trip of a lifetime for all three of us. My Mom and Dad took me in when I lost my way at 54. I lived with them at the beach for 9 1/2 years. She made sure I was well cared for, she cooked for Dad and me, and she tried like hell to cheer me up--trying everything--especially comedies. We would go to the movies every Tuesday matinees. We'd lunch and shop with Aunt Carolyn (her bestie). She made sure I had everything I needed to get a leg up and become independent again. I would have to say Mom saved my life, and I thanked her daily and will be forever grateful. When Dad was unable to travel, Mom and I would cruise together. Our last cruise, and both of our favorites, was 10 days in Italy. We had the best time and didn't let the attempt on her to be mugged in Rome by gypsies, which the tour guide and I fought off. She was unharmed, thank God. Mom would not let that ruin our trip, and we continued on our journey around the boot of Italy. We visited the island of Capri. What a beautiful island! We had great food everywhere. We, of course, in Venice had wine , pizza, and gelato at the Hard Rock. Wherever her travels took her, she would find a Hard Rock, if there was one, and buy the boys T-shirts. Our cruise continued on to the South of France and Monocco. Another fond memory a few years later was our cruise to Alaska, where Mom zip lined! I couldn't believe it, as she was afraid of heights! Definitely a bucket list item for her. When you traveled with Mom, you had a great time, so much fun she was, no drama, and the time of your life. Everyone loved Mom. Mom was my best friend. All her life she did acts of service. She took excellent care of my father. The only time I ever saw her cry was when Dad fell in the backyard and broke her hip. She and I had just returned from the movies to find an ambulance at the house, helping lift Dad onto the ambulance with a broken hip. She was at the front door watching them wheel Dad to the ambulance, and tears were running down her face because she knew he would never come home, he already very ill for several years. She was right. She visited Dad two times a day in the hospital, and then at the nursing home. She would bring him every food that he used to love to try and get him to eat and rehabilitate in order to come home. He died at 88 on the fifth day at the nursing home in the night. She called me and said "Daddy's gone." The worse day of our lives, it was.My mom gave me so much love, support, encouragement, and help my whole life. Childhood memories that were fun and happy, then becoming my "Go to Girl" until the end of her life on October 26, 2022. We talked on the phone every day. Mom was the best person she could be, unselfish, kind, sweet, and generous. We would be out shopping, and if a homeless woman was on the street corner, you bet Mom would pull over and give her money. She was a true humanitarian. Without Dad, Mom still lived her best life, exercising, walking her dog along the beach, and still traveling Even during her last illness, she never lost her sense of humor and generous spirit Whenever anything happened with her last illness, she'd tell my brother Steve, whom she lived with, "Call Stacey so we can tell her what happened at the dr, appt. today". She was so happy living with Steve and his loving wife and daughters, who all helped with Mom's care for over 1 1/2 years. She and Steve had a tremendous bond and love for each other.After caring for her family, her mother, her sister, and me for my whole life, at the end of her life, when I was with her in hospice, and her time was nearing, she said to me--and this was the last thing she said--was "Stacey, if I ever needed you, I need you now, don't leave, I want to savor this moment, and we held hands, and I leaned over to hug her and held her close for hours.I miss my mom, my best friend, and my angel. I talk to her every day in heaven. She believes and is God's favorite angel. May she rest in peace. . .

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Stan uploaded photo(s)

Thursday, December 29, 2022

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Stan Posted Dec 29, 2022 at 2:18 PM

love you mom, forever and A-day

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The family of Barbara Marie Hartman uploaded a photo

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Barbara Marie Hartman

1934 - 2022

SANTA CLARITA VALLEY

ANTELOPE VALLEY

VENTURA COUNTY

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