Barbara Helen Sanchez

Barbara Helen Sanchez, age 86, passed away on October 31st, 2021, in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. She was born on September 12, 1935, in Williamsport, PA, to Torrence Rudolf Karstetter and Mary Ellen Smith. Barbara was a member of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Community, Fort Bragg. She graduated from Sugar Valley Area High School in Loganton, PA, where she was a talented clarinet player, marching in parades and performing at sports events. She worked as a nurses aide at the Lock Haven Hospital, as a telephone operator in Philadelphia, PA, and as a florist in Newark, NY, where she met her husband of 45 years.

She always gave good advice, was strong-willed, positive attitude, always encouraging, and never judgmental. She dedicated her life to her husband and children, preferring to spend time with family at home than to take a time-out to do social things with friends. She made many sacrifices in order to stretch the budget to ensure her kids had what they needed, and she never complained. She never wanted for material things and was content to love and enjoy the simple things of life. All who knew her knew that the perfect gift to give her was something good to eat, not flowers, not jewelry, or clothes. Although she struggled with mental illness her entire adult life, she never made it an issue so as not to worry her family. Her strength and determination to persevere to do her very best for her family despite the struggles of her illness and the challenges of raising a family were the crowning glory of her accomplishments. Her actions and sacrifices were the best demonstration of love a family could ever want or need. If she had a favorite pass time, it was listening to music, watching shows with music like Lawrence Welk, American Bandstand, American Idol, and America’s Got Talent. Barbara loved sweets, but ice cream was her favorite, saying many times that ice cream could be a meal for her. Her favorite song was, “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden” by Lynn Anderson.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Genaro Sanchez; sons, Phillip Sanchez and Genaro Sanchez, Jr.; sister, Margaret Karstetter; brothers, John Karstetter and Donald Karstetter.

Barbara is survived by her daughters, Angela Landon and husband Terry, Yolanda McPhatter and husband Wendell, and Juanita Hemmerick and husband Robert; son, David Sanchez and wife Julie; sisters, Gladys Harper and Diane Hendershot; grandchildren, Joseph Landon, Christopher and Myranda Landon, Anthony and Ashlan Price, Matthew Prince, Zack And Zane Sanchez, Jacob Hemmerick, Eric and Mikayla Hemmerick-Corvelli, Nathanael Hemmerick, and Ariel Lopez; great-grandchildren, Hunter and Sofia Landon, Lorenzo Corvelli, Taylor Prince, Celeste and Estella Howcroft.

A time of visitation will be held on Saturday, November 13, 2021, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Crestview, Florida, with the funeral service starting at 11:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Liveoak Park Memorial Cemetery.

Arrangements are entrusted to Whitehurst Powell Funeral Home in Crestview.  Guest book and condolences are available online at www.whitehurstpowellfuneralhome.com

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