In Memory of Barbara Pecor

Many people may not know who barbara Pecor is but she had a great effect on th elives of everyone who knew her.Barbara was my "adopted" big sister and best friend- the one I always confided in. She left on her journey to "Grandfather" at 3 AM on Sept.30th.Her visitations and Memorial Service  were held the first week of Sept and she had a true American Indian ceremony.My husband Norman was one of several who eulogized our friend and tears streamed from his eyes as he did the Eagle Call to all four directions.

Barbara touched so many people.She was there to listen to everyone's problems,to dry tears and to tease and poke fun.Always a prankster she loved using play on words. jokes. She was a great lady who had a huge heart;and maybe it was physically too big as it finally gave out that sad morning.

Barb was unselfish.She spent the last twenty years raising her granddaughter Burnie with Joy Pecor her step-mother and soul mate.Both of these wonderful women put their lives on hold to raise this child who was the smallest premie born in Rochester,NY.Burnie had so many birth defects that Barb,Joy and Barb's dad were told Burnie would be blind,deaf and dumb,severely retarded and never walk.Burnie proved those doctors wrong;and just maybe part of the reason was the devotion and love her family gave her.Burnie has Cerebral palsy and long QT syndrome but she graduated from High School this year.She can see,hear ,speak and walk but is mildly retarded.Barbara put her own life on hold as did Joy after Barbara's dad died to give Burnie every chance possible to grow into a fine young woman.Barbara made sure Burnie was taught about her heritageand they helped out at and attended many PowWows.

In the past few months Barbara's health went downhill and she  spent more time in her wheelchair than on her feet. During this same period our horse Shadow,whom she adored  became crippled from two right hind leg snake bites.As Barbara went downhill so did this great horse.As her legs got worse so did his.She lost a lot of weight,Shadow who was an easy keeper lost weight on his right hind quarter as if the muscles atrophied.Were they connected by a bond -I feel so for the day after Barbara's Funeral our 100% foundation bred  quarter horse Black Arrow Joe(Shadow) took a massive heart attack and died. At the time he passed at least four of us in different places saw a vision of Barbara looking younger and healthier  riding a healthyShadow across the sky.They went on their journey together.So this weekend at the NAIC PowWow in Paris Landing,TN a great woman was honored and we danced to the drums singing her memorial song. And as we danced she was there with us and in the sky above a cloud formation resembled a woman on a horse.Goodbye my sister and good bye my four legged best friend.may you always ride the skies together.