“Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life, bringing peace.” Kahlil Gibran
Our amazing grandmother Barbie passed away on Valentine’s Day. I wanted to share her poetry and obituary with you as part of healthy living is celebrating those who pave the way and teach us what life means.
Here is the autobiography she wrote about herself:
Barbara,
loving, giving, loyal, devoted
child of critical parents
creative mother of four
musical grandmother of ten
lover of kindness, beauty, generosity
who feels free to be me at last
who need needs friendship,
companionship and laughter
who admits to being a very late bloomer
who gives understanding,
support and encouragement
who fears ignorance, cruelty and violence
who would like to see a society of justice,
tolerance and compassion
residing happily now, in Natick
| Barbara Mellitz Krentzman |
| Barbara Mellitz Krentzman, age 90, of Natick passed away Sunday, February 14th after a brief illness.
Born in Bridgeport, CT, she married Edgar Krentzman in 1941 and raised four children in Fairfield, CT. Barbara received a bachelor degree in music from Smith College. In 1978 she settled in Massachusetts in order to be closer to her loved ones. Barbara earned a degree from the Gerontology program at UMass Boston and then used her knowledge and craft to work at Hale House, a retirement home in Boston. She led current event discussion groups and a music therapy hour for isolated elders. Barbara was a lyrical genius, a gifted poet, visual artist and brilliant pianist. Those who knew her marveled at how she could sit at a piano and master practically any melody, without having played it before and often without having sheet music to follow. She was instrumental in starting the Creative Connections program for seniors at the Morse Institute Library in Natick, an early board member at The Center for Arts in Natick and a regular participant in writing groups in Wayland and Natick. In April of 2006 she published a 52 page volume of her own poetry and reminiscences titled “Now and Then.” During the summer of 2007 she had a one-woman exhibit of her paintings at the library. She was known by friends and family as warm, outgoing, sincere and a great gin rummy card player. She was a wonderful mother, mother-in-law and grandmother, always baking challah, pies and cookies, and making delicious soups as well as other dishes that were coveted by all family members. She leaves her children Nancy and Michael Lopin, Daniel Krentzman and Patti Sheinman, David and Carol Krentzman, and Judy and Kevin Dayton, and her grandchildren Naomi Lopin and John Osborne, Jonah Lopin, Aaron and Betty Lopin, Jenny and Tim Gomeringer, Nellie and Austin Goodman, Samuel and Sophia Krentzman, Nicole Platt, Mollie Krentzman and Collin Dayton. She also leaves loving cousins, nephews and friends. She lived in The Pettee House in Newton for the last four months of her life and her family will be forever grateful for the kindness and care she received there. |
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