Barbara Florence Moore (75), passed away on October 22, 2023 surrounded by family at her home in Northville, Michigan. Beloved mother, mother-in-law, sister, grandmother, and friend, she was known for her sense of style, her humor, her faith, her love of family, and her ability to make and maintain deep and lasting connections.

Born in Detroit on May 20, 1948 to Emily M. (nee Joseph) Moore and James E. Moore, Barb was the second of three children. She was a nurse by training, completing her RN degree when her boys were of school age. But she took up other jobs as well. She worked as a bookkeeper, dog trainer, school secretary and later in life, a sales associate for Eileen Fisher.

She was accomplished in the arts of homemaking. Barb painted the indoors of nearly every house she lived in and helped paint her sons' homes too. She had an eye for interior design,  landscaping, and gardening (her favorite style, the English cottage). She carefully studied the homes she lived in until she felt every piece of furniture, picture frame, and ornament formed a pleasing aesthetic composition that married form and function. Many of the pieces she cherished most were family heirlooms that helped her feel her place within a rich family history. She knitted, cooked and learned the art of bookbinding. She was an elegant dresser with a refined taste for timeless, functional clothing.

But Barb's greatest gift was loving people deeply and unconditionally, whether family or friends. Cooking for those she loved brought her a tremendous amount of joy. She would often prepare someone's favorite dish for their birthday or holiday gatherings, and she cherished the time spent around the table sharing stories and talking about current events.

She learned early on the art of staying in touch. Distance, time zones or years spent apart were no impediment. The telephone was a constant companion. She cherished connection and could not abandon people. She loved her boys dearly and loved her daughter-in-law Denise like her own daughter. Her grandchildren were especially treasured, and she imparted her faith and wisdom to them at every opportunity.

In the last years of her life when she lived alone, she befriended her neighbors, young couples half her age, who took an instant liking to her and invited her for evening drinks on the patio or home-cooked meals. She liked to laugh and make light of life's unpredictable setbacks and reversals. In this, she was trying to find common ground among people who did not always agree. She embodied grace and extended it to all.

Barb is survived by her son Todd, her son Jonathan (Denise), her younger brother Paul (Kelly), and her two grandchildren, Christian Stabley and Brooke (Dalton) Spencer.

A service celebrating Barb's life will be private.

Barb requested that this poem be posted with her obituary:

This isn't death, it's glory.

It isn't dark, it's light.

It isn't stumbling or groping.

Or even faith, it's sight.

This isn't grief, it's having.

My last tear wiped away,

It's sunrise, and it's morning.

Of my eternal day

It isn't even praying,

It's speaking face to face,

It's listening and it's glimpsing.

The wonders of His grace.

For this is the end of pleading

For strength to bear my pain;

Not even pain's dark memory

Will ever live again.

How did I bear this earth life.

Before I came up higher,

Before my soul was granted

It's every deep desire.

Before I knew this rapture

Of meeting face to face

The One who sought me, saved me,

And kept me by His grace.