Carl Barberi
Carl Barberi

November 20, 1949July 30, 2013 (63 years old)
Hometown: Greenville, MI
November 20, 1949July 30, 2013
(63 years old) | Greenville, MI

Obituary

It is with sad hearts that we announce the services to celebrate the life and times of Carl Barberi.  Carl passed Tuesday, July 30, 2013.  Services will be handled by Marshall Funeral Home in Greenville, Michigan.  Visitation will be Thursday, August 1 from 4 to 8 pm.  Please join us at 7 pm for sharing by family and friends –all are invited to participate.  Visitation will also be on Friday, August 2 from 2 to 4 pm.  The funeral mass will be at 11 am Saturday, August 3, 2013 at St. Charles Catholic Church in Greenville with viewing one hour prior at the church.  Carl is survived by many family members and friends – perhaps too many to name because all who knew him became his friend.  His wife of 35 years (August 4) is Alison Croucher Barberi, and their children are Andria and Joel Barberi.  He was so pleased that their spouses, DJ Pollert and Nicolette Barberi, became such wonderful additions to the family. Other surviving immediate relatives include his brother, Joe Barberi (Barbara) in the Barberi family’s hometown of Mt. Pleasant, and Mariann Gonsior (Stanley) of Midland, MI.  He was a special uncle to his nieces and nephews and in the last month was blessed with two great-nephews.  His mother, Catherine Barberi, recently passed away joining his late father, Carlo Barberi, on their wedding anniversary.  Carl was so loved by Alison’s family.  His ways will be remembered at many of the future Happy Hours on the deck at his beloved Higgins Lake.  He was also predeceased by his father-in-law Dick Croucher and other dear relatives.  Other close family members who share in our sorrow include his aunt Frances from Lowell, Massachusetts and dear cousins and their spouses from the East Coast and the Detroit area.  After graduating from Mt. Pleasant High School, Carl and his long-time friend, Bob Elmore, joined the Navy.  While serving their Country during the Vietnam War, both made “Navy buddies”, who in recent years were reunited to share great stories.  Upon returning home from the Navy, Carl attended college at Central Michigan University where he met his future wife, Alison.  While attending CMU, Carl’s work ethic was enforced while employed at Elmore’s Furniture in Mt. Pleasant.  After graduating from CMU, Carl was blessed to have had a great career in education, following in his father’s footsteps.  His impact was felt as a teacher at Rosebush Elementary (Mt. Pleasant Public Schools) then as Assistant Principal at Greenville Middle School, as Principal at Cedar Crest Elementary (his true love) and then retiring as Assistant Superintendent with the Greenville Public School system.  Along the way, Carl earned his Master’s Degree and Specialist’s Degree in Education.  His love for the Greenville community was made possible when Dick Laurent hired him to be his Assistant Principal exactly 35 years ago.  After his retirement, he worked with his brother’s law firm in Mt. Pleasant for almost seven years before learning of his cancer.  Carl always had time to visit and had an uncanny knack to recall names even years later.  Everyone was his friend and he cared very much for all he met.  His family is overwhelmed by the impact he made on his friends, former students and of course, other family members.  He was unique in bringing people together, a peacemaker and always made people feel that they are the most important. Carl had hobbies but his focus was always on people, and especially, kids.  Because of his love and concern that all children have the best opportunities in education, memorial donations will be appreciated for the new Carl Barberi Caring for Kids endowment fund at the Greenville Area Community Foundation.  Envelopes will be available at the Marshall Funeral Home, or gifts can be mailed to GACF, 101 N. Lafayette, Greenville, MI  48838 and write Barberi memorial on the memo line.  But being the best you can be, being a friend to those in need and making the most of each day, would be a lasting memorial in his honor as well.