Obituary of Barbara Talpas Canfield

Barbara Talpas Canfield, of Santa Cruz, 91, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 11, 2024, surrounded by her family.

Barb was the second oldest of seven children born to Samuel and Lucille Hazel of Indianapolis, Indiana. She grew up in the Midwest farm country during and after the war years of the 1940s. She loved jitterbugging and found a dance partner for life in Al Talpas. They began their life together in Cleveland, Ohio and raised a family of eight children before Al's career took them to San Jose California in the mid 1970s.

Barb always had an open door, an extra plate at the table, and an accepting heart for so many people throughout her life. She helped raise grandbabies, welcomed strays and any friend who needed a helping hand. She was an artist, nurse, teacher, cook, wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend.

She is preceded in death by her first husband Albert Talpas, her second husband Kale Canfield, and her daughter Terry Papaleo. SHe is survived by her children Sue (and Lee) Potts, Jackie (and Vito) Scotese, Pam Dent, Kathy (and Tom) Ramey, Al (and Acacia) Talpas, Mary (and Sandy) Talpas, Lisa (and Scott) Andersen; grandchildren Michella, Skip, Rick, Lara, Julia, Vito, Nicole, Vanessa, Anthony, Kathy, Sonya, Jennifer, Jared, Charles, Maria, Trevor, Cameryn, Elisabeth, Christina, Alexandra, Lauren, Soren, Steffen; and many, many great-grandchildren and several great-great grandchildren. She was very loved.