Barbara Mainhart

Barbara Ann Mainhart, 70, of Souderton, passed away on June 23, 2021, at Grandview Hospital surrounded by loved ones. Barbara fought bravely to recover from injuries sustained in an auto accident earlier in the month. Born June 20, 1951, she was the daughter of the late Craig and Mary (Abranovich) Mainhart.  She was the widow of the late Steward Joseph Leister, III, with whom she shared 36 years of marriage before his death in 2019.

Barbara was a graduate of Butler Area Senior High, Class of 1969. She completed her bachelor’s degree at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and then went on to earn her master’s degree in French from Indiana University, Bloomington, IN She was able to enjoy her French language skills while living and working in Paris. Early in her career she managed her own company providing marketing and communications consulting. She then went on to work for many companies, including Lutron, Gandalf/Anfotron Systems Corp., Fisher and Porter, Northern Telecom Systems and H & R Block. She most recently worked for Alpha Center for Divorce Mediation as a marketing/communications coordinator.

In her spare time, Barbara loved cooking, gardening, canning, and finding hidden treasures in small shops across Pennsylvania. A very well-read person with a thirst for knowledge, her bookshelves are overflowing with books on topics ranging including How to Grow Currents, Presidential Biographies, Photography, and various arts and culture books. She had entire shelves of her bookcase full of various cook books, exploring new tastes and cooking methods and books dedicated to her passion for the French language.  She had a special talent for finding the best in people and helping then to growing and nurturing those skills so they would have great successes in their personal and business lives. She loved helping others to be their best self.

Barbara is survived by her brothers, Larry and Robert Mainhart, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Patricia Leister-Ricci and Mark Ricci, cousins, nieces, and nephews.  She was an integral part of a special tribe of girlfriends who will miss her deeply.

Services will be held Friday, June 25, at 11:00 AM.  Friends and family may call from 10:30-11 prior to the service at Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service, 135 W. Pumping Station Rd., Quakertown, PA 18951.

Contributions in Barbara's memory may be made to Morning Star Fellowship Church, or Gift of Life.