A woman of great spirit and a heart full of love, Christine Ellen Barber, spent her final moments in the comfort of her beloved family on Saturday March 21, 2026. Christine is reunited with Glenn, her other half and lifelong love.

Born in West Springfield on July 12,1955 to the late Thomas J and Margaret (Padden) Nostin, she spent her youth and was educated there graduating from West Springfield High School class of 1973. Christine wed the love of her life, Glenn "Howie" Barber and they spent forty-two years happily married until his passing in 2015. She took immense pride in creating a loving, nurturing home where she instilled in her children the values most important to her in life. Her love for her family was unwavering and unconditional, defining the very essence of who she was. Christine's work life reflected her dedication and compassion. Her early career included numerous customer service roles, and she eventually found meaningful work as a caretaker at Sunshine Village in Chicopee supporting individuals with disabilities.

An avid outdoors woman, Christine loved camping with her husband Glenn transitioning over the years from tents, to pop up trailers and campers. They enjoyed frequent trips to Burlingame State Campground in Rhode Island and sites in Wales and West Brookfield MA. Her greatest pleasure was relaxing at the beach, especially Roger Wheeler and East Matunuck in Rhode Island and Hampton Beach in New Hampshire, to work on her tan and play cribbage. Christine found great joy in creating through ceramics, expressing her creativity and passion in each piece she thoughtfully crafted. Affectionately known as Nana she took great pride in watching her grandsons playing football and her granddaughter dance and perform as a cheerleader. Driving in the summer in her 1975 red Corvette was a passion for her. Her life was a beautiful mosaic of loyalty, love, and laughter. She will be dearly missed, and the impact of her life will continue to be felt through the memories shared by those who loved and had the honor of knowing her.

Surviving Christine is her devoted son Howie, his wife Alisa and their children, Nicholas (fiancée Kathryn MacLean), Christopher (fiancée Sarah Cerone) and Alexis, loving daughter Heather Barber, her fiancée David Martins, and their son Devlin Bowers and beloved son Vinney Navarro and his children, Nathan and Ashley Navarro. She will be greatly missed by the light of her life and faithful companion who brought her immense joy, her shih tzu, also named Howie. Christine leaves her best friend whom she spoke with daily, Irene and her husband Walter Carron as well as her nephew Tommy Nostin, niece Stephanie Nostin-Olivar, and beloved family and friends.  Christine was predeceased by her brother Thomas J Nostin and sister Bridget D Nostin.

Visitation with her family will be held on Sunday, March 29, 2026 from 1 until 3 P.M. at the Agawam Funeral Home 184 Main Street concluding at 3 P.M. with a service to follow. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association.