Asta, Naomi L.
age 87 (born March 15, 1929, died December 20, 2016), Edina, MN, formerly of Duluth, MN and Scottsdale, AZ, died of natural causes, after living a wonderful life. Naomi graduated from St. Scholastica School of Nursing, and after several years as a nurse, spent her adult life as a devoted wife, loving and wise mother of seven children, and cherished Nana of 12 grandchildren. Naomi was a former member of the Junior Leagues of Duluth and Phoenix, and PEO. Her greatest joy and cherished blessings were spending time with family. Preceded in death by her parents, and her husband of 64 years, Joseph J. Asta, MD, Naomi is survived by her children: Nancy (Douglas Erickson), Catherine (Richard Black), Mary (Benjamin Batsch), Joseph (Marsha), Amy (Thomas Kalgren), Sarah (Stephen Burg), and Marshall (Julie); and grandchildren: Sarah (Jeffrey Remakel), Peter, Ted, Alex, Sophia, Ellie, Maddie, Kevin, Brendan, Olivia, Nick, and Tony. She is loved and will be dearly missed by many. Memorials preferred to: Children’s Hospitals and Clinics Minnesota. Celebration of Life reception March 4, 2017, 1:30-3:30, Memorial Community Mausoleum, Lakewood Cemetery, 3600 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN. about helping people with their optical needs. He was an active and dedicated member of the Church and loved to travel. A funeral is scheduled for 10:00 AM at Messinger Mortuary, 7601 E. Indian School Rd., Scottsdale. All are welcome to attend and celebrate John’s life. The family would like to thank caregivers at Sisters Assisted Living for their care in the last part of John’s life. Rodarte, Reiley Rodarte, James Zimmerman, Emma (Brian) Shell, Moriah (Scott) Rees, Samuel Zimmerman, Camille Zimmerman, Tiffany Roberts, Lauren Roberts, Kenny Sundlof, Evan Spencer, Sean Spencer, Ellie Ann Abbadessa, AJ Abbadessa, Libby McCreary, Robert McCreary, Christina McCreary, and Caroline Cedrone; four great grandchildren: Gunner Rodarte, Abbigal and Aubri Caddell, and Fitzgerald Shell. Barbara was one of eight children born to William and Anna Gordon in Milton, Massachusetts. She is survived by three siblings: Dick (Bev) Gordon, Bill Gordon and Joan King. Preceding her in death were her siblings Claire Fitzpatrick, Arthur Gordon, Millie Cusimano, and Mary Clerk. In 1967, Jim and Barbara moved their family to Tempe, Arizona, where they resided for 50 years. Their eight children went to Meyer, McKemy, and McClintock schools. Barbara was a parishioner at Mt Carmel and at Holy Spirit Catholic Churches in Tempe. Barbara was the Director of the Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) in the state of Arizona. One of her greatest joys was watching culinary students compete for and be awarded significant scholarships to continue their education post high school. She was an active member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals through which she spearheaded the Kids in the Kitchen Apple Pie Project. She received many awards for her involvement in culinary education including being inducted into both the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame and Les Dames D’Escoffier. She was honored in 2016 with the C-CAP Founders Award and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Scottsdale Culinary Festival in 2002. Barbara had the opportunity to work with many chefs around the valley and the country to help a new generation of students receive culinary education. She was the food stylist for Desert Treasures Junior League of Phoenix cookbook. She amassed a significant cookbook collection, many signed by great chefs. She hosted many of these chefs in her home when they came to town for workshops. Barbara was a volunteer at the Hackett House in Tempe. Along with a group of Tempeans, she brought culinary education to children via the Passport to the World Program. Barbara and Jim were known for their annual St. Patrick’s Day Party, celebrating their Boston Irish heritage with green beer, corn beef and cabbage, trifle, and chocolate potato cake. In recent years, Barbara’s life was impacted by her protracted battle with Parkinson’s Disease, which limited her direct involvement in the things she held dear, but her heart remained interested and she would brighten up when hearing about a former C-CAP student or seeing a picture of her grand- or great grand children. A funeral mass will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 1800 E. Libra Dr., Tempe, AZ 85283 on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 10:30 am. A private family burial will follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to the Barbara A. Colleary Careers through Culinary Arts Programs (C-CAP) Scholarship: 4948 W Buckskin Trail, Phoenix, AZ 85083, or through the C-CAP national website: ccapinc.org Richardson Funeral Home, Tempe, Arizona is compassionately serving the family.