Obituary: Barbara Ann Shields

God saw you getting tired

and a cure was not to be

so he put his arms around you

and whispered, "Come to Me"

You were ready for the journey

and although we wanted you to stay

we know this is not a last goodbye

and we'll be with you again one day

A golden heart stopped beating

hard working hands at rest

God broke our hearts to prove to us

He only takes the best

A resident of Carson City since 1993, Barbara was an active member of the Catholic community throughout Nevada and California. She was well loved for her spiritual nature, her capacity for hard work and her wonderful sense of fun. She died March 16 due to complications from gall bladder surgery and cancer. She was preceded in passing by her husband of 32 years, James Gordon Shields and her grandson James Gordon Shields III (Jay), also her beloved brothers Conrad Lantz and Leon Christofano. She is survived by her children and their spouses Kathleen (Ralph), James Jr. (Sheila), Diana (Glen), Robert (Leyla), Carol (Jerry), and Mary Ellen [Mel] (Steve), her grandchildren Barbara, Rebecca, Anna, Angela, Natalie, Robert, Kenneth (Ferron), Matthew, Hayleigh and Sydney, and great-grandchildren Alexandria, Nicholas, Nathan, Noah and Katie. She is also survived by her sister in Ohio and family in Pennsylvania.

Barbara was born in Butler, Pa., and lived in Texas, Florida, Trinidad (W.I.), Mississippi, California and Nevada. She retired from Regional Transit District in Southern California in 1993. She will be remembered by her family as strong and resilient, but a loving and gentle person who could convey more in a look than words. Barbara had a variety of interests, including genealogy, ministry, and an innate curiosity about people and the value of each individual in the world. She always wanted to be useful, a participant in life's everyday adventures and looked at each minute of life as a gift. As a reflection of her desire to be of benefit to others, the family is requesting donations to MD Anderson Cancer Center where both she and her grandson Jay received treatment or to Catholic Services Appeal. A visitation will be at 5 p.m. Sunday, March 20 at Walton's Chapel of the Valley; Rosary at 6 p.m. at 1281 Roop St. in Carson City. The funeral Mass will be 2 p.m. at St. Teresa's Church in Carson City. She will be laid to rest in San Jose, Calif., at Oak Hill Cemetery next to her husband.