Obituary of Barbara L. Haberman

Barbara Louise Haberman of Woodbury, MN died at The Pillars Hospice Home in Oakdale, MN, surrounded by her family on March 26, 2018. She was 87 years old. Barbara is survived by her children, Craig of Alexandria, MN, Mark (Dave) of Hayden, ID, John (Brenda) of Golden Valley, MN and Michael (Catherine) of Louisville, KY; her ten grandchildren (to whom she was “Nana”), Kirk (Kimberly) of Beaver Falls, PA, Joshua of Seattle, WA, Christopher (Meg) of Sioux Falls, SD, Ethan (fiancée Lindsey) of Coeur d’Alene, ID, Sarah (Jake) of Golden Valley, MN, Seth (Judith) of Moses Lake, WA, Daniel of Minneapolis, MN and Lesley, Rebecca and Christian of Louisville, KY; and her nine great-grandchildren, Bryden, Simon, George and Daphne of Beaver Falls, PA, Jordan and Isaac of Sioux Falls, SD, Grace and Noah of Golden Valley, MN and Hannah of Moses Lake, WA. She is preceded in death by her parents, August John Essman, who died in service of his country in Phoenix, AZ, and Virginia Adams of Hood River, OR; and her brother, Gene Thompson of Snellville, GA. The family is deeply grateful for the long-time friendships within Barbara’s Woodbury community which sustained her and brought great joy to her life. Barbara was born January 27, 1931, in Myrtle Point, OR to August John and Evelyn Virginia Essman. She married Dwight Haberman on September 7, 1952 in Saint Paul, MN. Following their graduations from the University of Minnesota, the couple moved to Madison, New Jersey as Dwight began his seminary education. While there they welcomed twin sons Craig and Mark and later son John. In 1958, they returned to Minnesota where son Michael joined the family. Together they raised their family in Akeley, Ortonville and Cook, MN. In 1972, the family settled in Woodbury, making this community their home until 1983. Following her divorce, Barbara returned to Woodbury in 1986 and lived there until her death. In her living, Barbara exquisitely balanced her love of family, friends, animals, church and community, all while serving as a Kindergarten and second grade teacher in the South Washington County School system, both at Pine Hill and Woodbury Elementary Schools. In her retirement, she invested herself even more deeply into her areas of interest. She was a voracious reader (mysteries, in particular), longtime usher at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, volunteer at the Science Museum of Minnesota, the Minnesota Zoo and at the curling venue of the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake. Her belief in the political process led her to be active within Democratic Party politics, serving as a delegate to the 2006 Minnesota State DFL Convention and as a longtime Washington County election judge. In faith, she was a member of Woodbury United Methodist Church for nearly 40 years, sang in the choir, served as an office volunteer, as Wesley Meals coordinator and led the church library team. The DNR EagleCam held her rapt attention as did her growing interest in the game of bridge. Retirement travels opened to her all that had lived within her imagination – twenty-one international trips including seven weeks in Australia, the Panama Canal, several European river cruises, Italy, Ireland and more. National travels included three trips to Puget Sound where she served as crew on tall-mast ships repurposed for older adult adventures and learning. An east coast adventure unfolded during a trip to the Assateague Island National Seashore where she was able to immerse herself in the setting of the Chincoteague Island Pony Swim. One of Barbara’s greatest gifts to family was her love of adventure lived out, in part, as she introduced the family to downhill skiing more than fifty years ago. That passion continues to live large within a number of her children and grandchildren. Yet another adventure unfolded as, in a similar timeframe, Dwight and she built their water-access cabin on Sand Point Lake in what is now Voyageurs National Park. For nearly fifty years, many on her own, “the cabin” occupied a fitting, central place within Barbara’s life experience. The Crane Lake Chapel became another point of connection while there each summer and, of course, more volunteer service followed as she worked the book sale at the annual bazaar and supported the summer Vacation Bible School. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren travel regularly to share in all the wonder of time spent at “the cabin.” It is absolutely fitting that Barbara’s cremated remains will be scattered there sometime this summer. “The cabin” may be the crowning legacy that Barbara/Mom/Nana offered to her family. In corners of her childhood and throughout her entire adult life, dogs were an essential and life-giving part of Barbara’s family. In recent years, medical providers would ask Barbara, “Do you live alone?” She would level her gaze at the provider for a moment and then respond, “I live with a dog.” Her beloved Libby survives her and will find a new home among her children. It was a central concern of hers that Libby be cared for. Described as “a force of nature” by one of her sterling group of caregivers, Barbara personified this attribute from her earliest hours. Following her delivery, medical personnel set her to the side to “save the mother” and only after that was accomplished did they attend to Barbara’s earliest needs. She thrived, forging a tenacious approach to life, as her “village” of extended family provided safety and nurture throughout an often-turbulent childhood. Always, there was always another book to read, another idea to nurture to full flower and another adventure to plan. Throughout the year that preceded Barbara’s death, the family is grateful they were able to spend even more time with her, experiencing many endearing moments. A second “cabin reunion” occurred in July 2017 and additional joy-filled travels with family were planned. Family members attended medical appointments and they, along with friends, sat by her bedside during two hospitalizations in early 2018. Family surrounded Barbara with twenty-four-hour caregiving during her last six weeks in her home. An impromptu, early Saint Patrick’s Day dinner (Barbara’s idea) drew family and longtime friends to Barbara’s home just two days before she moved to The Pillars Hospice Home. Though Barbara knew her days were numbered, she still fought for the goal of being present at Ethan and Lindsey’s wedding in the Coeur d’Alene, ID area in August 2018, the same timeframe in which Seth and Judith will bring her tenth great-grandchild into the world in Eastern Washington. Barbara was able to remain in her Woodbury home of thirty-two years until one week prior to her death. She then entered hospice care and passed away peacefully after several years of declining health, which she traveled with dignity and grace. She will be remembered as a loving and devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, an adventurer and traveler extraordinaire, an engaged resident and volunteer within the larger St. Paul Metro area and a loyal friend. A memorial service is scheduled for Thursday, April 12, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at The Grove United Methodist Church’s Woodbury Campus, located at 7465 Steepleview Road in Woodbury, MN, with a reception and light lunch to follow. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., with music by family members at 10:30 a.m. Pastor Betty Schilling will officiate. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Barbara’s life. Memorial gifts may be made to the Crane Lake Chapel (7399 Handberg Rd., Crane Lake, MN 55725), Barbara’s faith community across all her years at “the cabin".