Barbara "Barb" Jean Strong, age 81, was born to eternal life Nov. 17, 2011, surrounded by her loved ones, in Henderson. She was born Nov. 5, 1930, in Shiawassee County, Mich., to the late Michael and Rose Guza.

Barb will be dearly missed by her devoted husband, Robert Strong, her best friend, lake lover, traveling partner and constant companion. Raised in Flint, Mich., Barb married Don Lefanowicz and raised four children in Fenton, Mich. Barb's nurturing way led her to a career in nursing, graduating from Hurley School of Nursing in 1951. She worked the "third" shift at the hospital so she could be home with her children after school. It was always family that mattered to her.

When someone is identified as a natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits Barbara Jean Strong who was indeed a born leader. She will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. She was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with her throughout her life. Possessed with traditional "old school" morals, Barbara was an individual who clearly communicated to those around her just who she was and what she was all about. Everyone acquainted with Barbara knew her as a well-respected woman who was a stable force in her community.

Her parents were Rose and Michael Guza who raised Barbara in Flint, Michigan. Even as a youngster, Barbara learned to be objective and decisive. Her faith in the principles of authority and dependability was something that she carried with her throughout her life. Barbara's matter-of-fact attitude about most things was developed during her childhood.

As a young girl, Barbara was able to put her natural abilities to work. She was a bit like the sergeant of the family, helping to make sure that the others did what they should do and that they avoided those things they weren't supposed to. In other words, she liked to organize and direct. Barbara was raised with seven siblings - Joanne, Michael, Rose, David, Donald, Ronald and Alberta. Barbara had an inborn appreciation for the order in the family, allowing for the oldest members to be the most respected and to take on the most responsibility. For Barbara, this was a natural order of life, one she gladly embraced.

In school, Barbara was as close to being a model student as one could possibly imagine. She sought to achieve perfect attendance in all of her classes. She would eagerly complete her homework, and often put in extra study time when she felt it was necessary. A logical and focused thinker, Barbara was always good at following directions and meeting her schedules, whether they were set by her teachers or were self-imposed. Barbara's personal motto could well have been, "Do it right the first time." She attended Flint Northern High School and graduated in 1948. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was Science. The teacher she enjoyed learning from the most was Mrs. Benoit.

Barbara's practical work ethic carried over into her college years. Her logical mind permitted her to work hard without succumbing to the usual distractions of college life. She would tackle an assignment and work through it before moving onto the next project. Barbara's orderly nature gave way to establishing personal study habits and procedures that not only helped her stay on track but often put her ahead of schedule. When Barbara saw the need or benefit, she would willingly take on the extra assignment or even attend extra classes in order to learn more and become a better student. She earned her Nursing Degree as a Registered Nurse in 1951 at Hurley Nursing School. Her favorite course was of course - Science!

Barbara was sociable and approachable. Because she was always so straightforward in how she approached relationships, friends and family knew that what they saw was always what they got. She enjoyed the camaraderie of being with a group of friends. When Barbara was a member of a group, her interaction worked to keep the others grounded. She wasn't afraid to confront her friends and, when necessary, she challenged them to stick to the task at hand. Those close to Barbara came to expect her high standards of performance. While growing up, some of her best friends were Dolores Bennett and Sharon Walders. Later in life, she became good friends with many people, but specifically Sharon Lock and Carolyn Guza.

An objective and conscientious individual, Barbara reveled in the security of her family. One of Barbara's most endearing qualities was her uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and her unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for her family and friends.

Barbara was ever watchful of her children. She worried about them and was deeply concerned for their development as they grew up. She maintained a firm hand in their upbringing. Barbara would give her stamp of approval to their requests, as long as she could see how they might benefit. She also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that her children were properly raised. Barb married Don Lefanowicz and raised four children in Fenton, Michigan - Mark, Kris, Craig, and Lynn. She worked the "third" shift at the hospital so she could be home with her children after school. It was always family that mattered to her. In 1978, Barb married Bob Strong, who had four boys - Matthew, Michael, Kenneth and Timothy. Additionally, they were also blessed with fifteen grandchildren, Libby, Becca, Molly, Maxwell, Michael, Adam, Alexandria, Brianne, Matthew Jr, Kaitlyn, Zachary, Jake, Max, Dillon and Seth.

Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Barbara was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. She was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Barbara was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. She worked cooperatively and expected the same from her colleagues. In both her personal and professional environments, Barbara upheld her standards. Her primary occupation was an RN. She was employed for 10 years at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Michigan. Barbara was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of "give me a job, and I will get it done."

Barbara approached her leisure time in the same manner that she approached her life. A person who enjoyed being neat and orderly and one who understood the nature of things, she appreciated the hours she was able to devote to her various hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were cards, bingo, golf and traveling to all 50 states. Barbara shared her favorite pastimes with her husband, Bob, and other girlfriends.

Playing by the rules was a natural thing for Barbara to do in life and that carried over to her enjoyment of sports. Recreational sports included Golf and Downhill snow skiing. She also was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list was NBA Basketball! Go Pistons!

Being generous with her time and energy, Barbara liked to belong to a variety of groups and organizations. She was a vocal leader who enjoyed being a part of things. Her desire to uphold traditions and her ability to take charge of any type of project made her a tremendous asset. Barbara was a member of the Spring Meadows Country Club, organizing many years of Jr. Golf for youths and assisted at church delivering meals.

Faith was important to Barbara. She held high moral standards and was worried about the moral decay she saw around her. For that reason she held deep spiritual beliefs that she was willing to share. She was a member of Catholic Churches in the communities where she lived.

When it came time to travel or take a vacation, Barbara used her scheduling expertise to make sure everyone and everything was ready to go. That also meant that she made certain no single person was overworked in putting the trip together. Barbara had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. Some of her favorite vacations included Aruba, Lake Tahoe and a cruise to Alaska.

When Barbara's retirement finally arrived in 1989, she was well prepared. She used her critical evaluation skills to make sure that every detail had been preplanned and attended to. Her new life involved relocating to Henderson, Nevada. In retirement, she found new pleasure in bingo, cards, reading and traveling. In many ways, Barbara loved retirement. It provided her with the opportunity to catch up with her friends, attend functions and group outings, and tackle new interesting activities.

Barbara passed away on November 17, 2011 at Miller Health Services, in Henderson, Nevada of natural causes. Services were held at Palm Mortuary. Barbara will be laid to rest in Fenton, Michigan with a Mass at St. John's Catholic Church at a later date.

All who knew her would agree that Barbara was a pillar of the community. She lived her life with her feet firmly on the ground. She had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in her thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. She was willing to share her ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Barbara Jean Strong did her best to ensure that her family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life she touched was given the chance to become a better person.

Barb will be dearly missed by her devoted husband, Robert Strong, her best friend, lake lover, traveling partner and constant companion.