L. Barbara Nestro

Our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, L. Barbara Nestro passed on to her eternal home to be with Jesus on June 24, 2022.  She was 87 years old, just shy of her 88th birthday.

Barbara was born on July 27, 1934 in Reading, PA, the only child of the late Francis and Emily Romdejko (Rand).  The late Arthur (PopPop) and Ida Mae (Nana) Quaintance were her dearly loved hanai father and mother.

After high school, Barbara met the love of her life, Joseph Nestro, Sr. (deceased) in 1951 when she was an usherette at the Orpheum Theater in Reading, PA.  Fred Pienta (Mom’s cousin) brought our Dad to the theater to meet her.  After the play began, all three (Fred, Mom and Dad) left the theater and went to the restaurant (Hofbrau) down the street.  Mom sat on one side of the booth and Dad tried to sit by her, but she said “no” and he ended up sitting across the table with Fred.  They all had something to eat and then Dad drove them all home in his 1950 Ford (Green Hornet).  Dad dropped off Freddie first by Pendora Park and then drove Mom the long way home to her house.  After that initial meeting, Mom and Dad began dating and the rest is history.  They had their ups and downs, but through it all stuck together.  They married in 1954 and were married for almost 60 years.  Together they raised two sons and three daughters.

Mom was proud to serve in the United States Navy during the Korean War, serving at the same time as Dad.  She worked for The Evening Star in Washington, D.C., where she had the most caring and understanding boss, Laurence Hill Green (deceased); the Childcare Center; NEPMU-SIX; and the Naval Supply Center all located at Pearl Harbor, HI; and the Defense Manpower Data Center OSD RAPIDS Office at Navy Annex/Rosslyn where she retired.

When the Navy transferred Dad to Pearl Harbor in 1970, Mom was overjoyed and thrilled—it was like she won the lottery!  They lived there for 11 years and she became an “island girl” at heart.  “Lucky You Live Hawai’i” she’d say and Hawai’i will always be her beloved home.

Mom dearly loved her family and was outgoing, young at heart, passionate in her beliefs, intelligent and instilled Christian values in her children.  She had a heart of gold and she always gave sage advice.  She enjoyed dancing, swimming, picking crabs, playing cards, bingo and board games and attending concerts, plays and shows.  She attended Elvis Presley’s practice show in Hawai’i and she swore he looked directly at her—she loved Elvis.

Mom’s primary care physician, Ulrich Prinz, MD, always provided excellent and compassionate care for over 30 years to Mom, Dad and Mom’s mother, Emily.  The Nestro ohana wants to formally acknowledge Dr. Prinz for his above and beyond dedication and care.

Barbara is survived by her five children, David (Peggy-deceased) Nestro, Andrea (UL-deceased) White, Susan (Robert) Schultz, Kristen Reed and Joseph Jr. (Melanie) Nestro; nine grandchildren (Carinsalyn, Neil, Laura, Gina, Stephen, Joseph, Nicole, JT and Michael); and five great-grandchildren (Elizabeth, Lucy, Liza, Sophia and Ailana) as well as many nieces and nephews and of course poi dogs and popoki.

Mom will be forever dearly missed and remembered by all.  May she rest in peace, A Hui Hou—"until we meet again!” 

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 1, 2022 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Everly-Wheatley Funeral Home, 1500 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA 22302. Rosary at 7:30 p.m. Barbara’s wishes were for attendees to wear crisp aloha wear/business casual attire.  

Mass of Christian Burial and Interment at Arlington National Cemetery will be held at a later date followed by a Celebration of Life.

If you desire to make a memorial contribution, please consider the “Catholic COTF Fund” and mail to Fund Manager, Memorial Chapel, 101 McNair Rd, Building 480, Fort Myer VA 22211; The Military Women’s Memorial; or the Central Association of the Miraculous Medal Shrine.  Flowers are welcome.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of L. Barbara Nestro, please visit our floral store.