Philip Victor Barker, 59, was born on February 3, 1959 at Meriden Hospital, and died on January 1, 2019 in Meriden, Connecticut. Philip had been for several months in hospice care, lovingly attended by his Community Companion Home Hosts, Ziggy & Aniela Kudewicz. Having lived with them for 16 years, Philip had become one of their family.
Philip was the beloved fifth child of Frank M. Barker and Mary Sasso Barker, of Wallingford, CT, both of whom predeceased him. Philip leaves three sisters and a brother, two brothers-in-law and a sister-in-law, a niece and three nephews: Donna McClure (Stephen McClure, Heather Lee McClure, Thomas McClure); Linda Jane Barker; Mary Lee Barker (Robert Perelman, Nathan Perelman, Daniel Perelman); and David Barker (Cathy Malchiodi).
Born with Down Syndrome, Philip grew up in Wallingford. He was awarded an Honorary Sheehan High School Diploma in 1980. Directly thereafter Philip became a client of Kuhn Employment Opportunities. Philip had several jobs in their Group Supported Employment program. The years he spent as a bagger at the Stop n Shop at Centennial Plaza in Meriden were very special to him.
Some of Philip's favorite activities were bowling with the Connecticut Challenger Bowling League (he always won!); A Church Youth-Group-sponsored monthly dances (the Macarena!); the eagerly anticipated yearly Wallingford Elks Lodge Christmas Party (Santa!); and Sprout Vacations for Adults with Disabilities (Philip toured Graceland!). Enrollment in a local program of Supervised Recreation brought Philip to Hubbard Park during the Daffodil Festival and made Philip's dreams of seeing Dolly, Reba, and Kenny Rogers in person at Foxwoods come true. In earlier years Philip was an enthusiastic participant in Special Olympics Games.
Philip's warm acceptance of everyone he met, his easy smile and great sense of humor (sometimes mischievous) endeared him to his family, friends, staff members, and co-workers. He cultivated a habit of cheerfully remembering the birthdays of loved ones. Once in a while Philip would surprise us with an insightful observation or some common sense, spot-on advice. He will be missed by many.
Family and friends are invited to a Memorial Reception for Philip at St. Paul's Episcopal Church's Wilkinson Hall, 65 N Main Street, Wallingford, CT from three o'clock to five o'clock on Saturday, February 9, 2019.
Interment in the Veterans Cemetery in Middlefield, CT will be private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Philip's memory may be made to Kuhn Employment Opportunities, 1630 N Colony Rd, Meriden, CT 06450.
Published in The Record-Journal from Feb. 3 to Feb. 4, 2019
Susan Parziale (Rapp)
Philip died on 1/1/19 in Meriden CT.
Philip Victor Barker, 59, was born on February 3, 1959 at Meriden Hospital, and died on January 1, 2019 in Meriden, Connecticut. Philip had been for several months in hospice care, lovingly attended by his Community Companion Home Hosts, Ziggy & Aniela Kudewicz. Having lived with them for 16 years, Philip had become one of their family.
Philip was the beloved fifth child of Frank M. Barker and Mary Sasso Barker, of Wallingford, CT, both of whom predeceased him. Philip leaves three sisters and a brother, two brothers-in-law and a sister-in-law, a niece and three nephews: Donna McClure (Stephen McClure, Heather Lee McClure, Thomas McClure); Linda Jane Barker; Mary Lee Barker (Robert Perelman, Nathan Perelman, Daniel Perelman); and David Barker (Cathy Malchiodi).
Born with Down Syndrome, Philip grew up in Wallingford. He was awarded an Honorary Sheehan High School Diploma in 1980. Directly thereafter Philip became a client of Kuhn Employment Opportunities. Philip had several jobs in their Group Supported Employment program. The years he spent as a bagger at the Stop n Shop at Centennial Plaza in Meriden were very special to him.
Some of Philip's favorite activities were bowling with the Connecticut Challenger Bowling League (he always won!); A Church Youth-Group-sponsored monthly dances (the Macarena!); the eagerly anticipated yearly Wallingford Elks Lodge Christmas Party (Santa!); and Sprout Vacations for Adults with Disabilities (Philip toured Graceland!). Enrollment in a local program of Supervised Recreation brought Philip to Hubbard Park during the Daffodil Festival and made Philip's dreams of seeing Dolly, Reba, and Kenny Rogers in person at Foxwoods come true. In earlier years Philip was an enthusiastic participant in Special Olympics Games.
Philip's warm acceptance of everyone he met, his easy smile and great sense of humor (sometimes mischievous) endeared him to his family, friends, staff members, and co-workers. He cultivated a habit of cheerfully remembering the birthdays of loved ones. Once in a while Philip would surprise us with an insightful observation or some common sense, spot-on advice. He will be missed by many.
Family and friends are invited to a Memorial Reception for Philip at St. Paul's Episcopal Church's Wilkinson Hall, 65 N Main Street, Wallingford, CT from three o'clock to five o'clock on Saturday, February 9, 2019.
Interment in the Veterans Cemetery in Middlefield, CT will be private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Philip's memory may be made to Kuhn Employment Opportunities, 1630 N Colony Rd, Meriden, CT 06450.
Published in The Record-Journal from Feb. 3 to Feb. 4, 2019