Barbara Lucy Bufalini

Obituary Barbara Lucy Lavorato Bufalini Barbara Bufalini was born in Tacoma, Wash., on March 26, 1924, the daughter of Italian immigrants Louis Lavorato and Marfisa Orlando. She was predeceased by her brothers Tony and Richard. Barbara graduated from Stadium High School in 1941 and the skills she would develop later at secretarial school would lead to a career at Weyerhaeuser Timber Co., where her speed and attention to detail resulted in her becoming manager of its first computerized word-processing department. On June 19, 1943, she met Sam Bufalini, a young G.I. from Ambridge, Pa. Their romance was interrupted when Sam shipped out for the war in Europe, but he proposed on his return and they married on Dec. 2, 1945. Their love burned brightly for 65 years, only ending with Sam's death in 2010. Barbara was a masterful knitter, a voracious reader and a wonderful singer: Her soaring solo on "O Holy Night" was an annual highlight at midnight mass at St. Rita's. Barbara is survived by her sons Samuel and wife Moira Dann; David Bufalini, his wife Kristine and their sons David and Paul, whom she adored, and two great-grandchildren. A rosary will be held at Gaffney's Funeral Home, 1002 Yakima Avenue, Tacoma, on Thursday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m.; a funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 21 at St. Rita's Catholic Church, 1403 S. Ainsworth St., Tacoma, Wa. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Rita's charity program are welcome. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home.