Obituary of Barbara H Backus

Waterloo-Barbara Holmes Backus, 89, of Waterloo, died Friday (August 26, 2016) at Geneva General Hospital, with loving family by her side. Affectionately known as, "Aunt Ba"! Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 1) at Coe-Genung Funeral Home in Waterloo. The funeral service will be 10 a.m. Friday (Sept. 2) at Waterloo Baptist Church, Rt. 96 S., Waterloo, NY. Rev. David Underwood, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Waterloo. Barbara was born May 31, 1927, in Waterloo, to Ernest and A. Gertrude White Holmes. She was a lifelong resident of Waterloo. Barbara and her sister, Virginia, helped their parents run the Red Jacket Lodge on Main St., Waterloo, until 1971. She worked at the Waterloo National Bank, now the Community Bank, until 1965, when she married Edgar (Ned) H. Backus, Sr. When Ned passed away in 1969, she went to work for NYSEG, until retiring in 1992. In her younger years, she took piano and organ lessons. She enjoyed playing at different locations and for many organizations. Barb, was organist for Waterloo Baptist Church from 1951 to 1962. She then was an organist at Grace Episcopal Church Willowdale, retiring in 1979. She also enjoyed playing the piano at Huntington Living Center. As a longtime member of Order of the Easter Stars, Seneca Chapter 78, she was the pianist for this organization from 1963. Barbara was a member of Waterloo Baptist Church, since 1937. She is survived by loving nieces, Barbara (Butch) Wells of Romulus and Linda (Timothy) Karol of Round Hill, VA; nephew, William (Mary Jane) Holmes of Waterloo; great-nieces, Christy (Chris) Nielson of Akron, CO and Susan (Aaron) Shelley of Clyde; great nephew, Eric (Laura) Holmes of Rocky River, OH; great-great niece, Cassidy Holmes of Fairport; and great-great nephew Devin Nielsen of Akron, CO. Condolences for the family may be sent to www.coegenungfuneralhome.com.