Floyd, Barbara W.

Barbara Walker Floyd was born April 21st 1933 in Rochester, New York. Born three months premature, she was feisty since birth, overcoming whooping cough in her first year of life. Despite these struggles, she was awarded Honorable Mention in a Prettiest Baby contest. She began her faith journey at an early age as an active member of Saint Cecelia Parish, and later attended Nazareth High School for Girls, which she graduated from in 1951.  Determined to earn her own way, she traveled downtown alone to Sibley’s to apply for her very first job; she started the very next day.

She met her husband, Paul Walker, in 1954 and they were married in 1957. Together, they were founding members of St. John of Rochester Parish Church in Fairport New York, where she was a pillar in the parish community until her death.  Paul was active in the Bushnell’s Basin Fire Department, she was active in the Ladies’ Auxiliary. Barbara loved hosting game nights, family parties, and cooking meals for those she loved. She especially loved making her baked goods! She and Paul had three children, Nancy, Mark, and Debbie.  

Paul passed in 1987 but her life continued to flourish. Rekindling friendships with her grammar school gang, building community through church, and attentively tending to her flower garden kept her very busy. She eventually married again to Charles “Charlie” Floyd in 1997, and began to split her time between Rochester and Florida. Her life in Florida included making new friends on the golf course and entertaining her friends and neighbors over cocktails and her delicious cookies. Charlie passed in 2005 and she returned to Rochester full time, although she never forgot her friends from Florida. A life long dog lover, Barbara raised and doted over many dogs and generously donated to Lollypop Farm, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, and many other charities that supported the animals she loved. 

She was a staple in the St. John of Rochester Parish community and attended daily mass the last three decades of her life. She was proud to wash the priest’s chalice and serve in the sacristy following each Mass. She was fervent in her faith!  Her favorite trip was a pilgrimage to Medjugorje Bosnia, a site of Marian apparitions.  

She will be missed by her family and her many, many friends. She is pre-deceased by her parents, Sylvester and Florence Buelte, husband Paul, sister Patricia, and granddaughter Colleen. She leaves behind her children – Nancy (Scott), Mark (Sue Ann), and Deborah (Ed) – and grandchildren – Kyle(Michelle) Stacy, Michaela, and Erik.

Calling Hours Friday September 5, 2025 10-10:45AM at St. John of Rochester Church 8 Wickford Way, Fairport. A Funeral Mass will follow at 11AM. Burial will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Lollypop Farm