Barbara Del Sol Tamarack

BARBARA DEL SOL TAMARACK

FORMERLY BARBARA ANN TRUJILLO (THOMPSON)

A lover of angels and dolphins and all things sparkly, Barbara departed this earth after a long period of declining health.   Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico to Ross and Mary (Gallegos) Trujillo, Barbara was the oldest of seven children.  She spent her childhood in New Mexico and Germany and California – wherever the Air Force sent her father.  After high school she trained as a medical assistant and went on to a long career as a psychiatric nursing assistant and then a home health aide.  She was the person you wanted to have taking care of your aging parents.  She was gentle and compassionate even with the most difficult patients and knew how to get a laugh out of those who were grumpy or blue.  She treated the tasks of bathing and personal care and bed changing as sacred acts.  But she had a fiery side, too, as her family and friends could attest to.  Barbara believed no feeling should be left unexpressed, and those who knew her undoubtedly experienced her skill at drawing out every last one.  She also knew how to draw out stories – from every checker at the Fred Meyer’s and every clerk at the bank or the shopping mall; she knew all their life stories and considered them friends.  Barbara was passionate about all things spiritual.  In addition to staying connected with her Roman Catholic roots, she also engaged in things like creative visualization, firewalking, swimming with dolphins, and angel cards.  She had an infectious laugh and joyful outlook.  For her 50th birthday, she gave her self the gift of a new name – Tamarack – a name which came to her while hiking on Mt Rainier.  A few years later the effects of living with diabetes for decades caught up with her, and her health declined enough that she could no longer do the heavy work of a nurse’s aide.  She retired to a small apartment at Lake City House, where in the last two years of her life, she found love with the man across the hall.  It’s the stuff of a Hallmark movie, a genre she loved dearly. 

Barbara is preceded in death by her parents Ross and Mary and her treasured sister Cecelia. 

She is survived by siblings Connie Michaels, Theresa Trujillo (Steve Moore), Rick Trujillo (Pam), Loralee Cortese (Jim), and Victoria Trujillo, as well the nieces and nephews she adored, a large number of dear friends, and her beloved partner Stan Wickersham. 

Memorial contributions in Barbara’s name are welcome to Mary’s Place (Seattle program serving unhoused women and children) – a charity Barbara loved.

To share your condolences and memories of Barbara, please visit her Tribute Wall, located above. 

- Care & Arrangements Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Services -

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