Obituary of Danuta Barker

Mrs. Danuta Barker, 96, of Titusville, passed away on Friday, July 31, 2020 at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. Danuta was born on September 24, 1923 in Siedlisko, Poland to the late Edward and Janina Alicia Ancuta Makiewicz. She married Frederick Sokol in July of 1946. He preceded her in death on March 13, 1972. She then married William H. Barker on February 28, 1976 and he preceded her in death on October 16, 2002. At the outbreak of World War II she and her family were refugees and spent several years in a Siberia concentration camp. After the camp was liberated they traveled to several countries before settling in England. Danuta enlisted in the Polish squadron attached to the Royal Airforce where she worked as a nurse. After the War she studied cosmetology in Paris and opened her own beauty salon. Several years later she owned and operated Victoria Café. Danuta moved to the United States in 1975 and attended Cal State where she received a nursing degree. She worked for several years in home health. She loved to garden and was very proud to have won the Titusville Garden Club “Garden of the Month”. She also liked going to the casino, playing bingo and loved her dog and cat. Danuta is survived by her daughter Maria Taylor and husband Peter of Titusville; three step sons, Christopher Barker and wife Maureen, Timothy Barker and wife Christine and Paul Barker all of England; two grandchildren, Michelle Witosky and husband Jay of Titusville and Michael Taylor and wife Melissa of Titusville; eight great grandchildren, Mackenzie, Madeline, Malcom, and Macallan, Sydney, Keaton, Graham and Ty, all of Titusville; one brother Les Makiewicz and wife Celia of California; and several nieces and nephews. Family and friends may call at the Gordon B. Garrett Funeral Home on Tuesday, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. A mass of Christian burial will be conducted at St. Titus Church at 11:00 a.m. with Fr. Walter E. Packard, officiating. Interment will be at St. Catharines Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital https://www.chp.edu/about/donate.