Cheryl Evans Barabani

Cheryl Evans Barabani of Kirtland, Ohio, died suddenly on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at the age of 70. A kind and gentle soul, Cheryl was born on March 8, 1946 in West Springfield, MA daughter of Francis and Marjorie Adams Evans, and graduated from West Springfield High School class of 1964. She went to the University of Massachusetts where she completed undergraduate degrees in English in 1968 and in Math/Computer Science in 1986. She also earned two Master Degrees, one in Education from Springfield College and one in Science from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Cheryl married her best friend and the love of her life Anthony Barabani in May of 1971. In 1981 she and Anthony left West Springfield and began a series of moves which included Acton, MA; Kirtland, Ohio; and Wassenaar, The Netherlands. With each move Cheryl practiced the philosophy “Bloom where you are planted”. Embracing and adapting to her new environments included changing careers. She was an English teacher at the High School of Commerce in Springfield for 13 years; a technical writer and then a software engineer at Digital Equipment Corporation in Maynard, MA for 13 years; and a reporter and photographer for the Lake County Tribune in Ohio for 7 years. In the Netherlands she belonged to the American Women’s Club of The Hague and wrote for Going Dutch magazine. During their Dutch stay they enjoyed the opportunity to travel without jet-lag to 14 different European countries. When they returned to Ohio she joined the New Clevelanders, a welcome club for newcomers. She served as a Board Member and Director of its Book Club for many years. To help foster neighborliness in her community she founded and maintained the Kirtland Lunch Bunch. An active volunteer she enjoyed delivering lunches to seniors for Meals on Wheels, serving high tea to patients and their families at Cleveland Clinic’s Taussig Cancer Institute, ushering for the Cleveland Orchestra, conducting visitor surveys for the Cleveland Museum of Art and participating in fund raising and community events with the Kirtland and Mentor Public Libraries’ Friends. A shared love of nature inspired her and Anthony to become volunteer naturalists certified through Ohio State University. She used her knowledge as she led tours at Holden Arboretum in Kirtland where she helped connect visitors with nature and conservation. With these activities, Cheryl recently reached her goal of working 2,000 volunteer hours for which she was truly proud. She was also a member of the Burrough's Nature Club and Blackbrook Audubon. With Anthony by her side, Cheryl felt fortunate and honored to travel around the world. During their 45 years together they visited over 40 countries in Europe, South America, Asia, Australia and the Pacific. Some of their tourism involved biking vacations in France, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand. But her favorite activities were walking in the parks of Kirtland with her husband and dog Dixie Cup making wonderful meals together and relaxing with them in front of the fireplace. In addition to her husband, survivors include her sister: Glennis (Curt) Carlson, nephews: Evan Carlson and Aaron (Adelya) Carlson, great nephews: Erik & Oskar and great niece: Kamilla. Preceding Cheryl in death are her parents: Francis and Marjorie Evans and her beloved Bischon Frisse, Dixie Cup. A Celebration of Cheryl's life will be 2-4 pm on Saturday September 17 in the Reception Center on the Brunner Campus, 8466 Mentor Ave. Mentor OH, 44060. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to: Fund for Cheryl, The Holden Arboretum, 9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland, OH 44094. Arrangements Entrusted to Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor, Oh. 44060. Offer condolences at www.brunners.com

Cheryl Evans Barabani

March 8, 1946 - September 7, 2016