Barbara Spitzer passed away April 26, 2015 after a valiantly waged battle with ovarian cancer.Barbara was born and raised in LaPorte, Indiana. She worked many years as an orthodontic technician with TP Laboratories and moved to California at 18 when the company opened a branch in Lodi. After marrying, she took a break from career to stay home and raise her two babies and also began art and business classes at Delta Junior College.
Barbara excelled in calligraphy and creative sign design, eventually opening two businesses-- Signs by Sienega, and later, Vital Signs. She found her niche in screen printing, working at Gary’s Signs for seven years and Lodi Screen Arts for 18 years where she eventually became production manager. Barbara loved to cook and won many national contests for her recipes that were published in numerous magazines and cookbooks.
Her love of cooking turned into a love of writing. Answering an ad in the Lodi News-Sentinel in 2005, Barbara started writing her popular food column, “From Barbara’s Kitchen: Questions and Answers for the Home Cook.” She cherished this connection with the community of Lodi, where she made many treasured friendships and which she has been proud to call home for 51 years.
Barbara is survived by her two adoring daughters, Deane M. Sienega and Corey A. Sienega, the shining lights in her life; her stepdaughter, Nicole Spitzer, who is an exemplary mother to the only grandchild, Dustin Huntzinger. She is also survived by her sister Joan Hupp; a niece, Linda Hupp; a nephew Drew Hupp and their loving families. She was preceded in death last year by her beloved husband of 33 years, Fred Spitzer; her parents, Jayne and Don Neff; and her brother, Brent Neff, who added much joy to her life.
Donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at 501 St. Jude place, Memphis TN 38105 in Barbara’s name because, as she has always said, “no child should ever have cancer.” (Her family would like to amend that to, “No one should ever have cancer” and add that Barbara’s love, laughter, support, fantastic cooking and legendary Christmas parties will be how they will remember her.)
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VISITATION
Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2015 from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home 831 Industrial Way, Lodi, CA 95242.
SERVICES
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, May 1, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at Evergreen Chapel at Cherokee Memorial Park Hwy 99 and Harney Lane, Lodi, CA 95242