Barbara J. Samardich, 79, of Altoona, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, went home to be with Our Lord on July 24, 2007, at Luther Hospital in Eau Claire. She was born June 1, 1928, in Monmouth, Illinois, daughter of the late Fred and Lucille Maher, and moved to Minnesota at the age of eight. She was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where she majored in social work, and was a social worker for 17 years, working in facilities from Western Wisconsin to East Lansing, Mich. In 1990, she became co-owner of the Cornell Area Care Center in Cornell, Wis. until her retirement in 1997, however, she was also involved in the purchase of Strum Nursing Home in Strum, Wis. in 1999 until Dec. of 2005. Barbara had a great compassion for older adults, their rights, safety, and well-being. She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Eau Claire, the church choir, Eastern Star, and the Sweet Adelines, and was an accomplished organist. Along with her love for music, Barbara loved to garden, decorate, travel, entertain, and spend time with her family. Barbara will be missed dearly by her many friends and family. God bless you, Barbara. She is survived by her husband, George Samardich, of 35 years; a son, Richard Gullings, Dayton, Minn.; two stepsons, Robert Samardich, Cornell, and William (Polly) Samardich, Maple Grove, Minn.; a stepdaughter, Mary Beth (Steven) Larson, Edina, Minn.; six grandchildren; a sister, Darolee (Cyrus) Anderson, Big Lake, Minn.; a brother-and- sister-in-law, Lawrence and Lois Samardich, Gile, Wis.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Phillip Maher. Funeral services will be held Monday, July 30, at 1 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church in Hurley, Wis., with the Rev. Eric Nielsen, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Eau Claire, officiating. Committal services and entombment will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood, Mich. Relatives and friends may call at the church beginning at 11 a.m. on Monday, where an Eastern Star Memorial Service will be conducted at 12:30 p.m. Pallbearers will be Mark, David, Jon and Christine Samardich, Paula Fullman, and Julie Fischer. To view Barbara's obituary online, sign the guestbook, and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Engstrom Funeral Home, Hurley, is assisting the family