Barbara Ann Hetrich completed her earthly journey with her entire family surrounding her on Saturday, March 23, 2024.

Always centered on God’s love for all God’s children, Barbara was the key to the strength and vitality of our dear family. As a registered nurse, her focus was on the well-being of her family. She poured out her love to us and to all who came into her life. Barbara had wonderful opportunities through nursing - delivering babies at the Reading Hospital; working with one of the top infertility doctors in the world at Yale University Hospital; caring for special needs children in Eagleville, PA; lead nurse for the Plymouth Whitemarsh School District in Montgomery County; industrial nurse at Yuasa Battery in Laureldale; nurse at The Highlands At Wyomissing; and parish nurse for St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Fleetwood, PA.

Barbara and her husband Paul were high school sweethearts. Married in 1957, they celebrated 66 years of marriage and a total of 73 years together. Barbara was the daughter of the late Louis Raymond Wanner and Mary Ellen (Moyer) Wanner of Hyde Park, Berks County, and sister of Mary Lou (Wanner) Haus Barry. The ultimate joy for Barbara was focused on the birth and life of children Timothy Paul Hetrich, husband of Michele (Renninger) Hetrich, and Julie Anne Hetrich Kline, wife of Gregory Todd Kline. Barbara also has four wonderful grandchildren who will miss their “Grammy” - Sydney Anne (Kline) O’Brien, Alexander Gregory Kline, Sarah Michele Hetrich, and Jessica Michele Hetrich.

Barbara was an energetic soul. Her interests mirrored her many talents covering the spectrum of music, crafting, cooking, travel, and the health profession, but her greatest passion was the unconditional love she gave to her family.

Barbara was the soul-mate and partner of her husband, the Reverend Doctor Paul Ruben Hetrich. Together this dynamic partnership led congregations in New Haven, Connecticut; at Salem Zion United Church of Christ (UCC) in Philadelphia; as assistant Conference Minister to the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference of the UCC; Saint Paul’s UCC in Fleetwood; and St. Peter’s UCC in Pikeland, Chester County. Paul and Barbara’s ministries reached around the globe to the Federated States of Micronesia in the Western Pacific where Paul addressed the spiritual needs of the islanders as Barbara attended to their physical needs with her compassionate nursing skills. This couple was also instrumental in starting and staffing the Owha Christian School and Seminary on the island of Pohnpei. Barbara and Paul were richly blessed in their world travels and the friends they made.

Barbara’s family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at the Highlands At Wyomissing, and Grane Hospice personnel for their compassion in taking care of Barbara in the final months of her life.

Please join us for a time of fellowship from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. and service on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at the Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, 739 Penn Avenue, West Reading, PA.

We welcome contributions you may wish to offer in memory of Barbara to be sent to Alzheimer’s Disease Research, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, P.O. Box 1950, Clarksburg, MD 20871-1950.

Condolences may be expressed at kuhnfuneralhomes.com.