May 3rd, 1954 - November 26th, 2023
Barbara Jean Conda passed away peacefully Sunday evening November 26th, 2023, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was surrounded by loved ones including her husband Nick, who has never left her side over the past 50 years.
She was born to James John and Alice Belle Roberts (Tomlin) on May 3, 1954, in Honolulu, Hawaii whereher father served in the US Navy. After his service ended in 1956, the family returned home to Boulder Colorado. Barb would remain in the area her entire life. Barb attended University Hills Elementary school
and graduated in the first ever graduating class at the “new” Fairview High School. Soon after graduation, Barb and Nick Conda were engaged to be married. As by some act of fate, Nick was in the Navy at the time and was stationed in Honolulu Hawaii. They would spend the first 2 years of marriage at the same location where Barb was born.
Over the years Barb would fully embrace her husband’s post service journey as she was so proud of the time he invested in the US Navy.
Together they had 2 daughters, Nikki Ann (Gabe Dorsey), Kristine (Brant Valvo) and grandkids Kaitlin Jean Williams, Gennaro and Belle Dorsey. Barb married into the Wesley D Conda family of Marshall Colorado. The Conda’s came to the US through Ellis Island as immigrants from Italy. Nick's grandfather homesteaded a part of Marshall. His father Wes was a miner. He would establish a rock quarry business near Eldorado Springs that was foundational in
building out the growing community of Boulder and the surrounding areas. Nick's mother was Cherokee which would help ground the immigrant family’s heritage with their indigenous roots.
Barb was one of the first women to work in the mining industry. She was employed by Western Aggregates and then retired from Arcosa located just south of Boulder. For over 30 years, in a male dominated industry, she drove trucks & heavy equipment, ran the scale house, and was in charge of quality control.
Over the years Barb spent a lot of time and energy researching the family tree on all sides. She was very proud that her heritage made her eligible for the “Daughters of the American Revolution”. She also discovered her Irish and Scottish roots which would explain her reputation as a caring, kind, badass lady.
She was unapologetic about her political beliefs and did not mind one bit sharing her thoughts out loud to whoever was around. She always had the best advice on what to do about any problem you might be going through and would always lend you an ear when you needed it most. She was fiercely protective of her kids, grand kids and any other little souls who crossed her path earning her the deserved title of “Mama Bird”.
Barb was 69 years old, and she left us way too soon. She was an amazing sister, mother, grandmother and soul mate to her husband who will love her until the end of time. She never knew a stranger and never missed an opportunity to say she loved us. To say she will be missed is the understatement of the century.
She leaves behind a long list of in-laws, nieces, nephews and her only sibling, Katherine Klink (William “Wills” Richard Klink Jr.)
We love you, Barb!
The “celebration of life” event is planned for January 6th, 2024, at 12pm located at the Longmont American Legion, 315 Bowen St, Longmont CO 80501.
