Barbara Evelyn Pearman, 83

January 23, 2016

Barbara Evelyn Pearman died peacefully in the Lancaster General Hospital on January 23, 2016. She was in her 84th year. Her departure was unexpected, and premature for those closest to her.

Her husband, Trevor, predeceased her in 2007. They met in England while she was attending the Queen Elizabeth School of Nursing and he, Birmingham University Medical School. They shared a lifetime filled with adventures, the most notable brought about by their decision to emigrate to the United States, and the subsequent voyage on the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 1 from Southampton, England to New York Harbor in 1967.

One constant throughout Barbara’s life was her immense pride in her twins, Christopher, with whom she lived in Lancaster, and Clare (wife of Mark Grochowski) of Wilmington, Delaware. Not surprisingly, that pride extended to her beloved grandson, Graham, a senior at the University of Tampa. In addition to her roles as mother and grandma, Barbara was sister to John (Linda) Weller and Jennifer (Stephen) Lacey, and ‘Auntie Barbara’ to Simon, Jonathan, Lis and Matthew, six grand-nephews and one grand-niece, all in England.

Over the years, Barbara volunteered with both the Lancaster General and St. Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliaries, serving as president of the latter; served as recording secretary and on the Legislative Committee of the Medical Auxiliary; was secretary of the Advisory Board to the State Health Department of Lancaster County; was vice-president and later, president of the Eastern Region of the Pennsylvania Hospital Association; was a docent at Wheatland, a member of the Women’s Republican Club and the Iris Club, and volunteered with Meals on Wheels.

Barbara became an American citizen in 1976, and shortly thereafter took the Pennsylvania State Boards to obtain her RN. She served as a substitute school nurse for Manheim Township School District, and as a surgical nurse at Hershey Medical Center for a time. She was also a licensed real estate agent for several years.

She was a member of the Market Square Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg, attended both St. Thomas and St. John’s Episcopal Churches in Lancaster, and praised the Lord in song with the ONE A-CHORD Community Choir and the Lancaster Chorale until her death.

Providing solace to those who love and miss her is the knowledge that, somewhere in heaven, there’s an impeccably dressed lady with a soft English accent and a dramatic hat, free of pain, full of joy, in the midst of a new series of adventures.

A celebration of Barbara’s life will be held in early June by invitation. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Market Square Presbyterian Church, 20 South Second Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101; ONE A-CHORD, PO Box 253, Akron, PA 17501, or LancasterHistory.org, 230 North President Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603.