Barbara K. Ness, 88, of Smethport, PA passed away Sunday (January 8, 2023) at Lakeview Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Smethport.

She was born May 18, 1934 in Charleroi, PA, the daughter of Frank Kaziska and Virginia Zeli Kaziska.  On August 16, 1952, in St. Gabriel’s Church, Port Allegany, PA, she married Daniel  N. Ness, who died March 22, 2005.

Mrs. Ness was a graduate of Port Allegany High School and attended Lock Haven Teachers College.  Barb worked at Corning Glass of Bradford.

Barb was a longtime member of the Smethport Senior Center.  She served as President of The Elderberries from 2007 to 2016.  Under Barb’s presidency, the center obtained a grant to renovate the facility to make it handicapped accessible, renovate the restrooms, kitchen, add a new addition, and update the heating system with an energy efficient boiler.  In 2011, the Senior Center was the designated official meeting site for the Smethport Chamber of Commerce and was presented with a plaque by the Chamber recognizing the center volunteers for their outstanding service to the community as the Community Service Organization of the Year.

Barb enjoyed reading, travel, spending time with family/friends and playing cards/board games.  Those of us who played cards and board game with Barb knew to keep an eye on her because she had a way of bending the rules in her favor. During the fall, Barb enjoyed cheering on her beloved Pittsburgh Steelers. 

She is survived by:

Two daughters:  JoAnn (David) Tanner of Port Allegany and Lois (Joseph) Kinney of Vine Grove, KY

Two sons:  Daniel Ness, II and Stephen (Tiffany) Ness, both of Smethport

Grandchildren:  Tony (Erin) Tanner of Port Allegany, Nathan Tanner of Port Allegany, Kathrine (Michael) Vinson of Jacksonville, AR, Sarah Lawson of Johnstown, OH, Nicole (Andrew) Burritt of Bradford, Samantha (Tony) Harris of Shinglehouse, Stephen Ness, II of Phoenix, AZ, and Madison Conn of Smethport

Great grandchildren:  Victoria, Alyssa and Arlen Tanner, Alanna and Madeline Vinson, Omerie Lawson, Waylon and Marina Burritt and Sawyer Harris

One brother:  Joseph (Jane) Kaziska of Port Allegany

And many nieces and nephews

In addition to her parents and husband, Barb was preceded in death by a daughter, Jane Winn on June 8, 2022, three sisters, Gloria Tauscher, Patricia O’Toole and May Amell, and two brothers, Ralph and Floyd Kaziska.

Visitation will be held on Monday, January 16, 2023, from 9-11 AM, from the Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes, Inc., 2 Bank St., Smethport, where funeral services will be held at 11 AM with the Rev. Thomas Brown, officiating.  Committal will be in St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Smethport.

Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Smethport Senior Center.  Online condolences may be made at www.hartle-tarboxfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Hartle-Tarbox Funeral Homes, Inc., Smethport.