By the Family

Mar. 16, 2016:  Barbara Isabelle Maude (Hannah) Gudmundsson, a former resident of Bronxville, died on March 13, 2016.

Barbara was born in Waskada, Manitoba, on June 26, 1924. Her parents were Holly Hannah, a wheat farmer, and Evelyn McFetridge, a former school teacher; she was the second of three children. After a childhood spent in Waskada and Winnipeg, Barbara moved to New York after World War II to work at the newly formed United Nations as an administrative assistant. At the UN, she met an Icelandic press officer named Ivar Gudmundsson in 1953. The two were married in Copenhagen in 1956 and proceeded to various postings with the UN to Denmark twice, Pakistan, and New York.

Along the way, Barbara gave birth to three sons, Brian, Bruce, and Peter. Moving to New York in 1967, Ivar and Barbara raised their family in Bronxville. After their sons graduated from Bronxville High School in 1975, 1976, and 1981, respectively, finished college, and embarked on military service, the couple moved to McLean, Virginia (1986-93) and subsequently Boynton Beach, Florida (1994 to 2002). During this latter period, Barbara moved to Reykjavik, Iceland, to care for Ivar in what turned out to be the last year of his life in 1996. In 2002, Barbara relocated to Dallas and the Edgemere retirement community in order to be near family.

Barbara is survived by her son Brian and his wife, Cherie, of Fredericksburg, Virginia; son Bruce of Quantico, Virginia; son Peter and daughter-in-law Kathy (Bronxville High School '82) of Dallas, Texas; and nine grandchildren, Kathleen, Brian, Kristjana, Paul, Eva, Tommy, Inga, Tori, and Maren. Barbara is also survived by sister Beth Hughson of Prince George, British Columbia. 

The family will hold a memorial service for Barbara at 11:00 am on April 16 at the Edgemere (8523 Thackery Street in Dallas) with a reception to follow.

In recognition of the excellent care Barbara received and the lasting relationships she enjoyed at Edgemere, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made in her memory to the Edgemere Employee Appreciation Fund, c/o The Edgemere Business Office, 8523 Thackery Street, Dallas, TX 75225.