Barbara M. Nania, 86, of Indiana, died Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, at Indiana Regional Medical Center.
She was born March 13, 1931, in South Bend, Ind., the only daughter and youngest child of Joseph Jacob and Theodora Doktor Makielski.
Barbara attended Catholic schools in South Bend, where her parents owned an artist supply, fine gift, and picture framing business. Her mother was a regionally recognized painter of landscapes and still lifes, and many of her uncles and aunts made careers in the arts. The family lived mostly at rural Eagle Lake, Mich., where Barbara swam, canoed, and ice skated with the changing seasons. She learned to play the piano from her aunts, and she fondly recalled traveling to Chicago with her mother to trade shows and museums.
After graduating as valedictorian from St. Mary’s Academy in South Bend in 1949, Barbara studied English and elementary education at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis. She received her bachelor’s degree in 1953 and her master’s degree in 1954. She married Tony Nania, a graduate student from Boston, on Aug. 21, 1954. Tony’s academic career took them to Columbus, Ohio; back to Milwaukee; to Erie; to South Bend; and finally, to Indiana, where the family has lived in the same house since 1966.
Barbara taught 6th grade in a Catholic school in Milwaukee, Wis., for a brief period before starting her family. Although Barbara’s time as a professional teacher was short, she was a lifelong teacher, especially to her grandchildren, who she made sure were exposed to history, art, and theater and whose endeavors in those areas she fully supported. Barbara was a member of St. Thomas More University Parish and one of the founders of the Newman Center Book Sale. The annual book sale is a parish project about which Barbara was passionate, having spent countless hours over the 49-year history of the sale helping with event planning, book sorting, and book sale weekend activities.
Barbara was dedicated to her Catholic faith and for several years served as a catechism teacher at St. Thomas More. Barbara was a longtime member of the IUP Women’s Club. She especially enjoyed the Armchair Travelers programs and participating in the Red Cross blood drives the club sponsored on the IUP campus. Barbara took a strong interest in local history, and in her later years had time to become an avid fan of Steelers and Notre Dame football. Barbara and Tony took an international trip most years from the late 1980s until 2012, often with her brothers John and Tom. They saw European countries along with Thailand, Morocco, Egypt, and more. Barbara enjoyed sharing her travel experiences with family members by always sending post cards and bringing each grandchild a Christmas ornament back from every trip.
Surviving Barbara are her children, to whom she gave endlessly: Gina Nania (David Gwinn), Rapid City, S.D.; John Nania (Lijuan), Westbrookville, N.Y.; Paula Nania, Savage, Minn; Maria Boutelle (Michael), Savage, Minn; Joanna Afshar (Ali), Indiana; Joseph “Jake” Nania (Monica), Tempe, Ariz.; and Olivia Velting (Drew), Merrick, N.Y. her 15 grandchildren: Jeremy Nania Su; Calvin and Tessa Nania; Alyssa, Tony, and Cassandra Boutelle; Zachary, Julianna, and Madelyn Afshar; Theodore, Flannery, Susannah, and Charles Nania; Adelaide and Otto Velting. Also, her brother Thomas T. Makielski (Doreen) of Rochester, N.Y., and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Anthony J. Nania, on Oct. 27, 2016; her parents; and brothers Joseph “Jack” Makielski and John P. Makielski.
Friends will be received from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Robinson-Lytle, Inc. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Thomas More University Parish with Fr. Alan N. Polczynski officiating. Interment will be in St. Bernard Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like you to please consider a donation to St. Thomas More University Parish, 1200 Oakland Avenue, Indiana, PA 15701 or to the Indiana County Historical Society, 621 Wayne Avenue, Indiana, PA 15701.
www.robinsonlytleinc.com
