Barbara June Niemela was born on June 1, 1940, in Durango Colorado to Herman and Sadie Reames. The family moved to San Francisco California where her brother Thomas was born in 1942. Her father was a welder and rancher who was well known in the Orosi and Dinuba community. Barbara attended school in the area and married Charles "Tony" Niemela. She has two sons, Michael, who preceded her in death, and John, who survives her. She was a telephone operator in the early days of Pacific Bell in Fresno, and later became a manager with telecommunications as the company became AT&T. She was a loving mother and wife who enjoyed travel and homemaking. She passed away on May 5, 2026, at the age of 85. Thank you to all who loved and cared for her in her final days.