Obituary for Barbara Spencer Edmonds
To be what we are, and to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end of life. – Robert Louis Stevenson
Barbara Spencer Edmonds April 17, 1948 - August 27, 2022
Barbara Edmonds, 74, of Bloomington, Indiana died swiftly in the arms of her daughter at home on August 27, 2022.
Born Barbara Lee Spencer on April 17, 1948 in Indianapolis, Indiana to Patricia (Wingert) and Dr. Beaufort A. Spencer. Raised in Bloomington along with three siblings, attended Indiana University Laboratory Middle and High School. She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her daughter, Angela Elizabeth Edmonds (Mark Skivers).
Her studies in design at Southern Illinois University with Buckminster Fuller, Ed Scholssberg, and John Dieges inspired a lifelong passion for environmental design. She earned a nursing degree at Ivy Tech prior to completing a Bachelor of Arts in design at Indiana University. Barb was honored to be trained by Feng Shui Master Thomas Lin Yun in Berkeley, California.
Barb was a devoted nurse of over twenty years at Bloomington Hospital, a design consultant, and an all round creative soul who nurtured many to health with the fierce dedication and passion of a mother lioness.
Barbara and Daniel W. Edmonds, Jr. married in 1968 and they had one daughter, Angela. Once divorced, Barb manifested a chosen family of a few lifelong friends to admire, confide in, and confer about many facets of life.
Barb loved her entire family, biological or not, despite their quirks or conflicts. She worried about them, rooted for them, protected them, resented them, forgave them, and loved them despite passing time or distance. Generally, she loved on people, known to her or not, with a warm smile and inquisitive spirit. And most endearing was the affection she showed for the fur grand-babies, especially the gentle Pomeranian, Radar.
Barb was a follower of the spiritual teacher and humanitarian, Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, or “Amma” of South India. Amma’s message of compassion and selfless service for those in need was Barb’s guiding light.
Barb was involved with the Green Sanctuary Task Force, Chalice Circle, the Humanists, and Freethinkers’ forums at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington. She diligently nurtured community projects such as reuniting families with lost pets post Hurricane Katrina, advocating for music therapy to unite caregivers with loved ones living with Alzheimer’s, and was an active member of the Bloomington Watercolor Society.
In lieu of flowers, consider donation to Amma.org in support of global Green Initiatives in sustainability or UUBloomington.org
Mom, I am in deep gratitude for and profoundly grieving the loss of your big heart, precocious presence and good intentions to always make things better. Thank you for your transformative power of inspired grace and wit. You lived a servant’s life and modeled a servant’s heart. You gave me life, an amazing and diverse extended family, an eye and talent for art, and the power to see God’s life force in all things. In my dark times, you were always there to shift life forward and help me be stronger. I love you. And don’t you worry, my spirited and sensitive Amritavarshini, we will come together for a gathering (your favorite thing) to honor you at a later date yet to be determined.
Barbara Spencer Edmonds April 17, 1948 - August 27, 2022
Barbara Edmonds, 74, of Bloomington, Indiana died swiftly in the arms of her daughter at home on August 27, 2022.
Born Barbara Lee Spencer on April 17, 1948 in Indianapolis, Indiana to Patricia (Wingert) and Dr. Beaufort A. Spencer. Raised in Bloomington along with three siblings, attended Indiana University Laboratory Middle and High School. She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her daughter, Angela Elizabeth Edmonds (Mark Skivers).
Her studies in design at Southern Illinois University with Buckminster Fuller, Ed Scholssberg, and John Dieges inspired a lifelong passion for environmental design. She earned a nursing degree at Ivy Tech prior to completing a Bachelor of Arts in design at Indiana University. Barb was honored to be trained by Feng Shui Master Thomas Lin Yun in Berkeley, California.
Barb was a devoted nurse of over twenty years at Bloomington Hospital, a design consultant, and an all round creative soul who nurtured many to health with the fierce dedication and passion of a mother lioness.
Barbara and Daniel W. Edmonds, Jr. married in 1968 and they had one daughter, Angela. Once divorced, Barb manifested a chosen family of a few lifelong friends to admire, confide in, and confer about many facets of life.
Barb loved her entire family, biological or not, despite their quirks or conflicts. She worried about them, rooted for them, protected them, resented them, forgave them, and loved them despite passing time or distance. Generally, she loved on people, known to her or not, with a warm smile and inquisitive spirit. And most endearing was the affection she showed for the fur grand-babies, especially the gentle Pomeranian, Radar.
Barb was a follower of the spiritual teacher and humanitarian, Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, or “Amma” of South India. Amma’s message of compassion and selfless service for those in need was Barb’s guiding light.
Barb was involved with the Green Sanctuary Task Force, Chalice Circle, the Humanists, and Freethinkers’ forums at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington. She diligently nurtured community projects such as reuniting families with lost pets post Hurricane Katrina, advocating for music therapy to unite caregivers with loved ones living with Alzheimer’s, and was an active member of the Bloomington Watercolor Society.
In lieu of flowers, consider donation to Amma.org in support of global Green Initiatives in sustainability or UUBloomington.org
Mom, I am in deep gratitude for and profoundly grieving the loss of your big heart, precocious presence and good intentions to always make things better. Thank you for your transformative power of inspired grace and wit. You lived a servant’s life and modeled a servant’s heart. You gave me life, an amazing and diverse extended family, an eye and talent for art, and the power to see God’s life force in all things. In my dark times, you were always there to shift life forward and help me be stronger. I love you. And don’t you worry, my spirited and sensitive Amritavarshini, we will come together for a gathering (your favorite thing) to honor you at a later date yet to be determined.