Obituary of Mary Ann Barde

It is with deep sadness that I announce my moms passing on May 8, 2022.

My mom wasn’t just my mom, she was my best friend. She raised me as a single parent, always putting my needs before hers. After graduating from Saint Francis nursing school, she worked full time as a nurse for United Technologies Research Labs and part time as a seamstress from home to support us, and with all of that, she always managed to get me to my daily dance lessons, ice skating lessons, and sewing classes.

She was a kind, nonjudgmental, tender-hearted woman that enjoyed the simple things in life, reading books for hours and hours, doing her crossword puzzles, drawing, and painting animals and flowers and designing and sewing clothes, always making us matching outfits when I was young, and of course, always being surrounded by her many cats and dogs, which were nothing short of family to her.

We were so close, we shared all of the same interests and views on subjects from our love of creating art, spiritual believes to our love of animals.

My mom passed on to me her unwavering love and passion she had for all creatures great and small, always putting their comfort before hers. She spent her winters in Lake County, Florida, where she volunteered at the local animal sanctuary caring for rescued horses, cows, donkeys, dogs, and cats. The local newspaper wrote an article about my mom’s volunteer work, saying “Mary Ann’s unconditional love, devotion and compassion towards all of the animals and her endless hours spent at the ranch comforting each animal has deeply touched not only the animals, but each and every one of us.”

My mother was born in Torrington, on August 15, 1931, her parents were John and Mary Stolicny, they came here from Czechoslovakia, she was extremely proud of her heritage, she traveled there a few times, telling me how much she loved the country and how friendly and beautiful the people were.

She is predeceased by her sister Helen and brother Paul, her wonderful lifelong friend Ann Thompson and Jesse, her beloved border collie, who she said was the smarted dog she ever knew, also her other loving companions Skipper, Taffy, Sarah, Hannah, Tara, Morris, Sam and Snooky.

Besides me, her daughter Patti, she leaves behind her 2 grandcats, Prince and Cindy. The three of us will deeply miss her gentleness, kindness, and unconditional love she had for us more than words can ever explain.

If I may suggest, if you would like to contribute something in memory of my mom, she would love nothing more than for you to donate some time and energy to your local animal shelter, if not that, she would ask you to please be kind to all animals, great and small, I know that would mean the world to her.

My life will never be the same without you Mom.

“Until we meet again, know that I love you, that I always have and I always will.”