Barbara B Pfizenmaier

Barbara Coate Buckley Busser Pfizenmaier born May 16, 1922, died February 3, 2017

Barbara was born in Camden, New Jersey to Raymond Gauntt Buckley and Marion Henrietta Jones Buckley. Raymond, who hailed from Mount Holly, NJ, was the Comptroller for Bryn Mawr College, among other institutions. Marion, whose roots were on a Medford, New Jersey farm, graduated from Normal School, a Teacher’s College --and lived in Philadelphia. Barbara’s childhood was spent in Germantown, Pennsylvania. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with an education degree in 1944, and married John Harman Busser shortly after graduation. This marriage ended in divorce.

Barbara is the mother of five children: John H. Busser, Jr (Sherri), Dianne Raymond (Bruce Henderson), Mandy Falugo (Charlie), Gay Hayden (George), and Janet Girardeau (Frank). She has ten grandchildren: Janine Moghaddam (Kasper), Rob Busser (Erika), Julia Galindo (Andres), Ward Hayden (Krystal), Kyle Henderson, Elizabeth Girardeau, Cherise Litz, Sara Falugo, Bear Falugo (Sarah), and Mercie Mallea Barnes(Eddie). She also has nine great grandchildren: Catie, David, Steven and Jacob Busser, Gabriella and Valentina Moghaddam, Isabel Galindo, Sinjin Wheatley and Nyla Falugo.

Barbara married John (Jack) Pfizenmaier in December of 1968, and moved to Scituate, MA the following month. She became the stepmother to his six children and grandmother to their children. Her stepchildren include Jan Cook, Suzanne France, Emily Henderson (Michael), Clare Garrison (Ted), John (Buzz) Pfizenmaier, Jr. (late), and Thomas Pfizenmaier (Donna). Her stepgrandchildren include Andrea Cook Thorpe and Rick (his son Oakley) , Lisa France and Lee, Amy France Dawson and Tim ( Noah and Luke), Joel Henderson, Gavin and Shannon Garrison (Cole, Delaney and Asher), Tyler and Michelle Garrison (Chase and Cora), Lindsay Allen and Matt (Casey and Wyatt), Benjamin and Jaclyn Garrison, and Lenevieve, Ann and Kate Pfizenmaier.

Barbara and Jack’s home in Scituate was the place to go for holidays and summer vacations. She loved to host dinner parties with their family and friends, and she supported Jack’s barbershop and choir singing. They had a wonderful backyard vegetable garden that they worked on together. Many hours were spent by all in the backyard weeding, playing tetherball, croquet, and scoring fiercely at badminton. Many evenings were spent at dinner dances at the Scituate Harbor Yacht club, where they belonged together, and where she remained a member for over 45 years. While Jack and his son Tom worked on the boat, Barbara sunbathed and swam in the salt water pool with her floral bathing cap. They also enjoyed several years together at their winter home in Sebastian, FL. Jack died in January, 1989.

Mom used her education degree as a nursery school teacher at Grace Presbyterian Church in Jenkintown, and in Scituate, as a tutor for immigrant children from Cape Verde. For many years afterwards, she kept in touch with her two closest students, Maria and Natalia. While in Jenkintown, she supplemented the family income by baking for the Women’s Exchange, often until the wee hours of the morning, and her repertoire included her famous bavarians (chocolate, lemon and strawberry) and lemon squares.

Barbara was an active member for over 45 years of the First Trinitarian Congregational Church of Scituate; she also served for eight years as proofreader of all sermons by Reverend Mike. Over the years she participated in several committees at her church, most recently the Writing Ministry, where members wrote notes of

condolence and encouragement to other members. She belonged to two bridge clubs; the Scituate Garden Club, where she was Secretary; the Scituate Historical Society; was an active volunteer and Secretary of the Friends of the Scituate Library; and every Tuesday she could be found helping out at the Cohasset Consignment Shop, later renamed the Seachest, at one point retaining the title of the longest active volunteer.

Barbara had a love of music, movies and theater, especially anything by or with Bing Crosby or Frank Sinatra. She was an avid reader, subscribing to two daily newspapers and multiple magazines until well into her 90’s. She watched Katherine Hepburn in ​Bringing Up Baby at least twenty times. On her “not too fond of” list were Cher, Elvis, certain politicians and The Cracker Barrel Restaurant. She became a late in life afficionado of Americana Roots music as a fan of her grandson Ward’s band, ​Girls Guns and Glory. Her favorite holiday among many seemed to be Christmas and she enabled the family to gather together year after year through her warm hospitality, leaving a legacy of cherished memories behind.

She welcomed children, stepchildren, friends of children and those of every stripe into her home without question. Always interested in others' points of view, she didn't mind being an outspoken liberal in her circles on the South Shore. She was an arch supporter of impeccable grammar and a founding member of the Grammar Police, never once dangling a participle. Her children and guests will especially miss and find it hard to replicate her Texas Hash, barbecued meatballs, ebelskivers with orange butter, marble and lemon squares, chocolate drop cookies and fruitcake snaps, strawberry bavarians and her ever famous chocolate chip coffee cake. She believed in thank-you notes, guest books, tablecloths, the

good silver and crisp linens. She relished meeting Don Hermance at The Mill Wharf for lunch, and never missed her weekly wash and set with Faye at Zuki's until she moved to Attleboro. Her favorite shoes were Keds; at one point she had eight pairs- including blue, black, red, white, pink, plaid, and polka dot. Her wardrobe could be described as fresh and floral, while also an early fan of Talbot’s and Lord and Taylor classics. A quote often attributed to her: ”Better to go to the poorhouse in a Lord and Taylor dress than to stay home in a sack.” In her eighties, she seemed to pick up speed around Scituate. Local policeman and classmate of Janet’s Art Wood finally followed her home one day and issued her a warning; the warning was to “slow down and take it easy or I’m going to have to call you Bullet.” Hence the nickname was born.

In 2002, she built an extension onto her daughter and son-in-law's home (Gay and George Hayden) in Scituate, and lived there for fourteen years where she enjoyed reassuring safety and relaxation, knowing help and family was just a step away. After an adjustment period where she developed a true homing instinct for how to get to Cerce’s Takeout by the stroke of four pm, she settled in and really enjoyed her new home. After Gay and George’s faithful service, she was moved to Golden Living in Attleboro, MA, in October 2015. There, another faithful daughter, Mandy, with husband Charlie dutifully provided her with attentive loving care for 15 months. On some of her last good days at Golden Living, she spoke to people on FaceTime, wore her favorite coral lipstick and makeup, had her nails done in silver with sparkles, and had her hair styled. She won the lottery there with the best roommate ever, Jeannette Allen, while she relived her days at the Jersey shore resort where she spent time as a child. She especially enjoyed meeting her newest great grandchild Isabel and watching her blossom in her first year of life, and seeing pictures of her grandson Ward’s wedding to

Krystal at Graceland Chapel. She thrived in social activities winning five games of Parcheesi and two games of bingo, and excelled at trivia (a life-long favorite). She began eating dessert first.

An only child, her biggest goal in life was to have many children and her biggest gift were the siblings she gave each of them. Her oldest son, John, was the end all and be all, a Prince among mere mortals. Her daughter Dianne, the genealogical and nursing wiz and forthright, tell it like it is, independent twentieth century woman Barbara admired so much and was too polite to manage to be herself. Her daughter Mandy was the funniest and wittiest, most literate and most giving, and Gay, the go to girl for well- just everything - plans, instructions and big life questions. No need was too small to bring to her Professional Counselor and best listener daughter. Janet was an actress who never lacked for an eager audience in her Mom and never doubted who was most proud of her NYC bravery. Her granddaughter Janine, a world traveler, managed to get her over to tour Europe not once but twice.

She managed to keep in touch with, and master all things family- who was related to whom, birthdays, anniversaries, universities, what everyone wore to the wedding, and what was served. She loved houseguests and enjoyed annual visits with friends Mid Koper, Nancy Gay, Suzanne and Clare, Nancy and Susan Wade, their parents Bill and Iris, cousin Bud, Bob Busser, Janine, Kasper and family, and many many more. The family will have a hard time remembering when anyone’s birthday or anniversary is without depending on her sure guidance and reminders (Facebook happened just in time). She kept in touch with friends from childhood, high school, Jenkintown, PA, where she resided during her first marriage, her cousins and second cousins,

Scituate friends, and even seemed to know the details of both of her husbands’ families better than they did. She managed to retain a civil relationship with her first husband's subsequent wives: at a reunion as John was about to tell a joke and his current wife leaned over and said, "This is funny- wait and see”, Barbara replied, "I heard it thirty years ago".

She was not without shortcomings and had her share of heartbreak, anxiety and strife. She seemed to overcome them with faith, stubbornness, humor and perseverance, as well as a good cocktail and panty hose under slacks.

Both of her husbands were named John. Both of them had John Jr.'s and Jan's as their first and fifth children. Both of her honeymoons were in New York City. On both trips she saw a Broadway show. She met her first husband because he lived next door, and her second from when he lived across the street. Her parents were friends with both of their parents. She was in “The King and I” and “The Music Man” with both Johns -her daughters, son and first husband in Jenkintown, PA, John Busser, Sr. and Jr. Her first husband's brother threw her wedding reception to her second husband.

Barbara accepted Jesus as her savior so we know where she is. Her family and friends will miss her terribly but are grateful that she was with them for nearly 95 years and that they have been very blessed. As we read over this list of people who would not exist had it not been for Barbara’s life, and think about the love we have for each other, we are amazed at the impact of her life.We picture her

in Heaven socializing, catching up with all news, and basking in infinite love and endless understanding. We will think of her always and often but especially when the Lilacs, Forsythia and Hydrangeas are in bloom, and the Lily of the Valley peeks up its Spring head.

Memorial for Barbara Coate Buckley Busser Pfizenmaier
Saturday June 10 2017
1 pm
First Trinitarian Congregational Church
381 Country Way
Scituate Mass 02066
781)545-5300

 Service Information