Mrs. Barbara Faye Piraino (née Graves), age 84, passed away peacefully on October 11, 2025, in Wilmington, Delaware. Born on September 25, 1941, in Benton, Kentucky, she lived a life marked by faith, devotion to her husband, devotion to her family, and quiet strength.
Barbara graduated from Hardin County High School (Savannah, TN), before continuing her education at Evangel College where she met and married Andy (Andrew Mario Piraino) at age 19 (but was so quick to always mention she turned twenty a month later). She lived in Springfield, MO, Ames, IA, Manhattan, KS, Wilmington, DE, Springfield, MA, Milan, Italy, São Paulo Brasil, and again in Wilmington, DE.
Throughout her life, Barbara found joy in simple pleasures and meaningful pursuits. She and Andy lived on three continents but traveled to six.At home she enjoyed gardening, often tending to her flowers, string beans, blackberries, & fig trees with care and patience.She also loved reading and found comfort in the written Word.Her creativity shone through in her love for sewing and art—skills she used not only as hobbies but as ways to express love for those around her whether it was a quilt, a costume for her kids or grandkids, or the wedding dress for her niece.Painting (oil on canvas, acrylic, kiln-fired-ceramic) was also high on her list, but the art accomplishment most cherished by her family is the hand crafted violin (replica Stradivarius) she made in college.
Barbara’s faith was the cornerstone of her life. A devoted Christian, she was an active member of her church community wherever she lived. Her testimony was one of quiet grace and unwavering belief. She lived out her values daily through kindness, humility, and service to others.She knew she would go to heaven when she passed away because she knew that the simple act of believing in Jesus is all that is needed to get there.
Barbara is lovingly remembered by her surviving family members: Husband Andrew Piraino;her sons, Philip Piraino (Pamela Knisely Piraino) and Daniel Piraino (Laura Murray Piraino); grandsons Antonino Piraino and Vincenzo Piraino (Sarai Flores Piraino); granddaughter, Emily Piraino Pienaar (Leon Pienaar), great-granddaughter Liliana Pienaar; and elder sister Genevieve Graves Cloud.
She now joins in eternal rest, those who preceded her in death: Silas Revere Graves(father), Grace Adams Graves(mother) and Anthony & Josie Piraino (father/mother-in-law).
Friends and loved ones are invited to gather in remembrance of a woman whose life touched many on October 15, 2025. A visitation will begin at 10:00am with service to follow at 11:00am at Calvary Assembly of God, located at 2600 Shipley Rd in Wilmington, DE 19810.
A second visitation, service, and subsequent graveside gathering will begin at 11:00am on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at Pyburn Community Church, 345 Pyburns Dr, Savannah TN 38372.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Sunday Breakfast Mission (https://bit.ly/BarbSBM) or to the Calvary Assembly of God Foreign Missions Fund (https://bit.ly/BarbCAG).
