Barbara A. Casso peacefully passed away surrounded by her family on Sept. 8, 2025.
Barbara was born on Dec. 4, 1931, in Santa Barbara. Her parents were James Phillip (“Jimmy”) and Ruth (“Honey”) McCormick.
Barbara attended Franklin Elementary, Santa Barbara Junior High School, and she was a proud member of Santa Barbara High School’s Class of 1950.
Growing up, Barbara spent many summers in Mexico City with her mother and brother Carlos, visiting uncles, aunts and cousins.
Following her graduation from SBHS, she lived for the next year in Mexico City with her Tia Jenny and grandmother Nazaria.
Upon her return to Santa Barbara, Barbara met the love of her life Jesse Casso. They were married on June 1, 1952.
They had five children Barbara, Mary Ann (deceased, 1954), Jesse (Cheryl Marino), Anna (Michael Cloonan), and Jamie (Selina); 11 grandchildren Teddi (Reggie), Jamie (Natalie), Lucas, Isabel, Liliana, Akela (David), Marina (Jordan), Shayne (Jonathan), Xavier (Desiree), Nazaria, and Diego; and 11 great grandchildren Reggi, Boston, Bobbi, Ford, Nicolas, Adrian, Nani, Beau, Poppy, Keane and Damien.
She had countless nieces and nephews, many of them often visited their “Aunt Barbara,” to seek her guidance and counsel, and to be informed about family history.
Starting in the 1960s, Barbara worked at Andera’s Department Store, and then in 1971 she began working at Crown Jewelers until her retirement in 1992.
Jesse and Barbara raised their family at their long-time home in San Roque. Jesse raised his fruits and vegetables, and Barbara would turn the harvested crops into feasts for all to enjoy.
Barbara was an exceptional cook and gracious host. Christmas Eve, birthday dinners, and many, many family celebrations routinely offered her prized specialties — tamales, enchiladas or tacos, or Jesse’s famous barbecued tri-tip and lemon-infused chicken.
Over many years, Barbara and Jesse spent summer vacations in Kings Canyon, Yosemite, and Lake Tahoe with relatives from San Antonio, Texas, and Santa Barbara.
A 57-year parishioner at San Roque Church, Barbara was a life-long and devout Catholic. For years, she attended daily mass, and she was a fixture at 9:30 mass on Sunday mornings.
In 1966-67, she served as PTA president at Our Lady of Guadalupe School, and from 1969-73 she was an active member of the PTA at San Roque School. She also was a long-time member of the Santa Barbara Women’s Club.
Our mother was an amazing person; she was the matriarch of our extended family and she lived life to its fullest.
In retirement, she traveled to Asia with family, embracing different cultures and culinary delights.
A part of her lasting legacy is that she taught her family to be compassionate individuals, and to offer a helping hand to the less fortunate.
She was pre-deceased by her husband Jesse, as well as her parents and brother.
Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 20 at Calvary Cemetery in Santa Barbara.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to VNA Health of Santa Barbara.