Beloved matriarch, long-time volunteer

Devoted wife, beloved matriarch, and long-time volunteer, Barbara Sue Marino, nee Davis, died peacefully at a long-term care facility in Florida on June 22, after a long battle with heart disease.

Barbara Sue Davis was born July 11, 1939 in Bakersfield, California to a Central California farming family. As a teenager she was the sole provider for herself, her younger brother, and her mother, who was quite ill for many years. It was during this time, when she was working at Woolworth’s in San Francisco, that she met a young sailor, Anthony “Tony” Joseph Marino, while he was on shore leave. Within a few months, her mother sadly died. Barbara was only 17 years old. Soon after, the couple were married in a humble ceremony in San Francisco surrounded by friends.

After many moves in their young lives and a lot of challenges, they eventually settled in Claremont, where they lived happily for 42 years.

She thrived in Claremont and truly found a sense of community, becoming involved with many organizations and events throughout the years. She worked at Vons on Base Line Road for more than two decades, where she was a favorite checker among many locals.

In 2020, she and her husband moved to south Florida to live near their two daughters.

A devout Catholic, she served her parish community, Our Lady of the Assumption, in Claremont, for many years in various capacities, and developed lifelong friendships with her fellow parishioners. In addition to volunteering at OLA, she lived a life in service to her Claremont community, volunteering for Meals on Wheels volunteer and Claremont Senior Computer Club.

Outside of work, volunteering, and family life, she loved to play golf, travel, host barbeques alongside her husband, and cook for her children and grandchildren.

“Of all her roles in life, being a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother was what she treasured the most,” her family shared. “She loved her family so much.”

She was preceded in death five months ago by the love of her life, Anthony Joseph Marino.

She is survived by her son, Michael; daughters Antoinette and husband Peter, and Kathleen and husband Jonathan; granddaughter Kristen and husband Spencer; grandsons Justin and wife Tracy, and Dylan; and great-grandchildren Brayden, Cayson, Sofia, and Jax.

“She is dearly missed by all, but she leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, kindness, service, and faith that will never be forgotten,” her family added.

Her life will be celebrated Friday, July 18 with a funeral Mass at St. Rita Catholic Church in Wellington, Florida, followed by a committal ceremony at South Florida National Cemetery, where she will be buried alongside her loving husband, Anthony Joseph Marino.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her memory to the MorseLife Foundation at morselifefoundation.org/donate.