Obituary of Barbara Marie “Barb” Banko

CANISTEO: Barbara Marie “Barb” Banko, 86, died July 7, 2025, in Penn Yan, New York. Born June 16, 1939, in Buffalo, NY, to the late Adam and Ceclia Pawlicki, Barb resided in Canisteo, NY, with her son Paul. Barb loved her family, friends and her Roman Catholic faith. She spent "glorious days" spreading love, compassion and laughter to all around her. Her greatest joys were spending time with people, playing cards and board games with family, playing bingo, helping others, attending Mass, and time in quiet prayer. Barb was a communicant at Our Lady of the Valley Roman Catholic Parish in Hornell, where she was a Eucharistic Minister, a committed adorer at the Perpetual Adoration Chapel, and active with the bereavement and liturgy committees. She was also a former member of the former St. Joachim Church in Canisteo, where she was a lector. Barb was active in civic organizations: Hornell Lions Club, Hornell YMCA, Steuben County Democratic Party, and was a former member of Canisteo Town Council. She was recently honored as Lion of the Year 2024-2025. She attended Eden High School and was active in student council and cheerleading. She is survived by three children: Alan (Rebecca) of Irwin, Pennsylvania; Peter (Shana) of Georgetown, South Carolina, and Paul of Canisteo; six grandchildren Megan Beavers (Eric), Adam (Meghan), Zachary (Kelsi), Declan, Cormac and Keeva; five great-grandchildren Everett, Frank and Dylan (Megan), and Bennett and Henry (Adam); and brother- and sisters-in-law Rick and Linda Trippi, Sandra Zrodlowski, and Ginger Banko. She is also survived by dozens of nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by Stan, her beloved husband of 61 years, and daughter, Rebecca. The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, July 17, at the H.P. Smith & Son, Inc. Funeral Home, 29 East Main St. in Canisteo. A memorial mass will take place on Friday, July 18, at 10:00 am at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Hornell. Final interment will be in Hillside Cemetery in Canisteo. Memorial contributions in Barb’s name may be made to either Our Lady of the Valley Parish, the Perpetual Adoration Chapel of Our Lady of the Valley, 27 Erie Ave., Hornell, NY 14843 or to Sister Jude's Social Ministry, also at Our Lady of the Valley, 27 Erie Ave., Hornell, NY 14843, or the donor's choice. Arrangements in care of H.P. Smith & Son, Inc. Funeral Home in Canisteo.