Cherry Cinotti Barbera

Cherry Barbera, 91, of Bradley, WV died in her home on Tuesday, September 28, 2010. Her wish to pass in her sleep was granted. Born on March 4, 1919, she was the daughter of Italian immigrants, Luigi and Filomena Cinotti. She was preceded in death by her husband, George C. Barbera, her sisters, Josephine Stella, Yolanda Yates, Margaret Marchio, and her brother William, who was killed in World War II. Cherry's family settled in Mount Hope, WV in the coal mining camp of Kilsyth. She was the first member of her family to graduate from high school and was the valedictorian of her class. After marrying George Barbera on June 28, 1941, they spent the war years working at Glen L. Martin Aviation in Baltimore, MD, where they had their first child, Connie. The couple returned to Mount Hope and opened Cherry's Pastry Shop, and had their second child, Willie. Cherry and her husband then moved to Detroit, Michigan and worked at Ford Motor Company until 1949, when they returned to spend the rest of their lives in Mount Hope. Cherry worked in Fayetteville, WV for Rosser Long Insurance Company until her third child, Cheriann, was born. Cherry and George opened the Barbera Insurance Agency in Mount Hope. The couple invested further in Mount Hope in 1962 when they opened Burgerland Drive Inn on the Mount Hope By-Pass, which featured the first twist ice-cream cone in the state of West Virginia. The great cooks and efficient staff were comprised of Cherry's sisters, and Zelda Staggs and Edith Vealey. After that came U-Totem, a convenience store located also on the By-Pass. The familiar slogan was “We pack 'em – U-Totem.” Cherry's life was all about family—a daily visit to her mother, hourly phone calls to her sisters, creative, Italian meals for her husband and children. Those were the things that made her happy. The loss of her husband and sisters were her greatest sadness. So, now, together again, they are probably discussing the right consistency of the spaghetti sauce or who's going to make the homemade pasta. Of course, they won't agree. Cherry was an active member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Kilsyth and the Federated League of Mount Hope. In 2005 she was one of the first inductees of the Mount Hope High School Academic Hall of Fame. Th family left to cherish her memory are her daughters Connie Taylor and husband, Ron of Oak Hill and Cheriann Hanson and husband, Chris of Arlington Heights, IL, and her son, William Barbera of Dade City, FL. Also surviving are grandchildren, Leah Taylor Chappell and husband, George of Ravenswood, WV, George Barbera of Beckley, Aimee Barbera Dunn and husband, Greg of Fort Lauderdale, FL, Ron Taylor and wife, Lori of Youngstown, OH, Lindsay Hanson and Kristan Hanson both of Arlington Heights, IL and Nik Barbera of Boynton Beach, FL, great grandchildren, Andrew Barbera, Chris Barbera, Anthony Boggs, Mychal Boggs, Eli Taylor and Mia Taylor, Bradley Dunn and Kyla Dunn. Cherry's remaining family includes a host of nieces and nephews including the Stella, Yates, Marchio, and Barbera families. The family would like to express heartfelt appreciation to Cherry's long-term caregivers, Pat Persinger who was an important part of Cherry's life for three years and Loretta Swanigan who gave a year of dedicated care. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Funeral services will be on Saturday, October 2, 2010 at 3:00 P.M. at Tyree Funeral Home in Oak Hill with Father Paul Yuenger officiating. Burial will be at High Lawn Memorial Park in Oak Hill. Friends may call two hours prior to the service on Saturday at the funeral home. George Barbera, Ron Taylor, Nik Barbera, Luigi Stella, Chris Hanson, and Ronnie Taylor will serve as pallbearers. Memorial donations may be sent to Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School, 123 Elmore Street, Oak Hill WV 25901. Online condolences may be sent at www.tyreefuneralhome.com Arrangements by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, WV