June 21, 1932 - June 21, 2023. Born to Agnes Pearle and Clarence Leroy Brobst in Ithaca, NY, Barbara Ruth Brobst moved with her family to Jamesville and Manlius, finally settling in Irondequoit, NY. There she attended Seneca School and graduated from Irondequoit High School. She began singing solos in church at age 10 and sang professionally with dance bands and in night clubs by age 13. She studied voice at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and then at the Eastman School of Music, where she met her first husband, with whom she had her first child, a daughter. A few years later, Barb met the love of her life, Raymond Finn, who she married in 1956, and with whom she had four more children, living first in Greece, NY, and then in Irondequoit.

Music was an important part of Barb's life. She sang professionally as a soloist and in groups, and worked as a Choir Director and music program director first with Summerville Presbyterian Church, then Seneca Methodist Church, and several other churches over the years. She also shared her love of music with her family, encouraging her children to sing and play instruments. Her home was always full of music! Her love of music is carried on in her children, and several of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, through teaching music and playing instruments.

Barbara's Christian faith deepened as she grew older, and her ministry roles expanded. She was an active member of Bethel Full Gospel Church, and helped start the Emmanuel Retreat Center in Irondequoit, as well as an Assembly of God church. She studied at, and received a Certificate of Counseling from, Elim Bible School in Lima, NY. Barb and Ray moved to Florida after Ray's retirement and joined Indian Rocks Southern Baptist Church. While in Florida, she cooked weekly for a homeless shelter and for single parents at Isaiah's Inn. She and Ray spent 1991 with the Doulos Christian Community in Pennsylvania, where she started and directed two Catholic choirs. Returning to Greece with Ray in 1992, Barb was active in Latta Road Baptist Church and then Hope Lutheran Church. In 2012, at age 80, Barb helped start the Bread of Life meals program. She spent the last few years of her life in the Syracuse area.

Barb loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren "more than anything in the world". She enjoyed traveling to various states and Canada to visit them. She also enjoyed traveling to see different parts of the USA, Mexico, and Europe with her husband.

Predeceased by her husband, Raymond Calhoun Finn, and her daughter, Susan Marie Finn, Barbara is survived by her brother William (Janet) Brobst, sister-in-law Lucille Carruthers, her daughters Linda (Michael) Yarborough, Patricia (Craig) Stuart, Molly (Russ) Haynes, her son, Michael (Sherri) Finn, eight grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, a nephew, nieces, great-nieces and a great-nephew.

A memorial service will be celebrated at St. Camillus nursing home chapel in Syracuse (813 Fay Road) on July 5, 2023 at 10am. Barbara's funeral will be celebrated at Hope Lutheran Church in Rochester (1301 Vintage Lane) on July 18, 2023 at 11am, after which she will be laid to rest in Irondequoit Cemetery (3671 Culver Road). In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Barb's memory to Samaritan's Purse or to Saint Camillus Nursing, Rehabilitation, and Home Care.