Mary Giambrone Barker of Somerdale, New Jersey, was born on May 2, 1921 in Bridgeport, Pennsylvania, the daughter of immigrants from Sciacca, Sicily, where both of her parents were born. She died peacefully in her sleep on November 3, 2010. Mary was one of eight children, and was very proud of her Italian ancestry. Bridgeport was an enclave for Italian immigrants, and her childhood church was Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which is where the Italian community gathered to attend Mass. After attending Bridgeport High School, Mary enrolled in the Montgomery Hospital School of Nursing in Norristown, Pennsylvania, where she earned her nursing degree. Her first position as a nurse was in the Bridgeport School District, as the school nurse assigned to several schools. She thoroughly enjoyed her career as a school nurse, which continued until her marriage in March of 1946. Mary met her future husband, William (Bill) Barker, on a blind date in 1942 after Bill had enlisted in the United States Army. Thereafter, the couple became engaged and planned to marry when Bill returned from Europe. With the war over, Mary and Bill were married in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Bridgeport, and began their life together in a Philadelphia center city apartment. The first of their five children arrived in May of 1947. Mary is survived by her five children, Eileen Coladonato of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, William, Jr. (Anne) of St. Davids, Pennsylvania, David (Eileen) of Phoenix, Arizona, and Paul (Tina) and Thomas (Jeanne), both of Media, Pennsylvania. She is also survived by her sister Josephine, 19 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Her husband of 59 years predeceased her. She was an active member of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Somer-dale for more than 50 years, where she served as a lector and as a member of the Altar and Rosary Society. After her children were all in school, Mary resumed her career as a nurse. She was passionate about her vocation, and she worked for many years as a staff nurse at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia until her retirement. Her other great passion was her charitable work. Mary was completely committed to the missions of the Ladies of Charity of the Camden, New Jersey Diocese and the St. Vincent DePaul Society, and served as President of the Ladies of Charity. Her children fondly remember the fact that she would frequently ask (i.e., demand) that they accompany her to deliver food and other household goods to families in need on behalf of the St. Vincent DePaul Society. Mary celebrated her Italian ancestry through her active membership in Circolo Italiano, a social club that promotes Italian culture in Haddon Heights, New Jersey. She spoke Italian fluently, however, none of her children were intelligent enough to pick it up. Mary's other loves were enjoying opera and meeting new people. She loved listening to opera at home, and held season tickets to The Philadelphia Opera Company which she saw perform at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. When she was young she had a beautiful voice, and could play the piano by ear her entire life. She readily engaged others in conversation, and she frequently told her children that "every human being has something interesting to say." She and her husband enjoyed their retirement by traveling frequently to Elder Hostel programs. There will be a viewing at 9:30am on Saturday, November 6, 2010 at the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 135 No. White Horse Pike, Lindenwold, NJ, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am. Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Berlin. In lieu of flowers, family asks that donations be made to the St. Vincent De Paul Society, 901 E. Luzerne St. Philadelphia, PA 19124, Attn: Central Council.