Barbara Totten, 91, of Pleasant Valley, NY, passed away peacefully at Vassar Brothers Hospital on Friday, March 5, 2021 with her daughters by her side.
Born in October 1929 to the late Martin and Helen Plumb, she grew up in Poughkeepsie, NY, and graduated from St Peters. She started her career at the Telephone Company in Poughkeepsie as an Operator and was eventually promoted to a Supervisor at the Business Office. Shortly after marrying Eugene Totten in May 1960, she left her career to start her family and raise her two daughters. She taught religious instruction at St. Stanislaus Church and volunteered at her daughters' schools. When her girls were older, she worked at the Arlington High School cafeteria.

Barbara was strong, brave and kind, and a generous, loving, mother and caregiver to many family members. A selfless person, she made it her mission to improve the lives of others. Family came first and was above all else to Barbara, a value she instilled in all those around her. She felt that everything happened for a reason and rolled gracefully with life's punches. She enjoyed camping, sewing, reading and crossword puzzles. She learned how to use a computer in her 80's and wrote about her family's history.
In 2019 she became a resident of Renaissance Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Center. On behalf of her daughters, a special thank you to her team of aides and nurses, especially Gem, Maxine, Winsome, Robin and Ruge for their kind loving care and friendship.

Survivors include her daughters, Teresa Totten of Salt Point, NY, and Patricia Totten-Shelmandine, of Grahamsville, NY;  son-in-law Jeff Shelmandine; grandchildren (whom she thought the world of) Nicole (LaCelle) Winters and her husband Dean Winters, and Reese Shelmandine; and great grandson Wesley Winters, who brought a smile to her face with his confidence and witty comments. She was also survived by several cousins, nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her brother, Leonard Plumb and her bother-in-law Jack Totten, and sisters-in-law Ria Plumb and Carolyn Totten.

In keeping with her wishes, she will be cremated. Memorial services at St. Stanislaus Church in Pleasant Valley and burial of her ashes beside her husband at St Peter's Cemetery in Poughkeepsie will take place at a later date.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in whichever way you wish or pay a kind gesture forward in her memory.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Allen Funeral Home, Pleasant Valley.