Barbara (Laird) Zana

Barbara (Laird) Zana, age 86, of Granger, Indiana, passed away on July 25, 2026. She was born on April 17, 1940, to the late Woodard Laird and Ethel DeArmond in Springfield, Louisiana. Barbara lived a life marked by exceptional resilience, continuous learning, and unwavering love for her family and community. She was fiercely devoted to her family and friends and was their steadfast rock through joys and tragedies.

Barbara was the beloved wife of George Zana Sr., whom she married on August 27, 1960, in Albany, Louisiana. Their marriage was a lasting and devoted partnership until his passing on July 7, 2021. She was also preceded in death by her beloved son, George “Steve” Zana Jr., and her adored sister, Cheryl “Cherry” Laird. 

She is survived by her cherished children, grandchildren, and friends: her daughter, Elizabeth Zana; her son, William “Laszlo” Zana and his wife Agata; her daughter in law Colleen Zana; her grandsons, William Zana Jr., Patrick Johnson, and Christopher Cole; her dear friends Dorothy and Kathy,  and her brother, Woodard “Woody” Laird.

She graduated from Ponchatoula High School in the class of 1958 and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in education and English from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1973. Her love of learning stayed with her throughout her life.  She lived out her commitment to helping others through both education and healthcare. 

Barbara was a teacher for many years and a lifelong student, taking classes well into her late 70s. She shared her knowledge, patience, study skills, and encouragement generously with the students she taught and tutored directly as well as with her own classmates, both in the United States and overseas. 

Barbara earned her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license when she was in her 40s. After getting a perfect score on her licensure exam, she worked as a nurse for over a decade. She especially loved caring for the elderly and for infants, approaching her work with compassion, dignity, and skill. Her dedication to others showed in every role she held, and she touched many lives through her service. Through her example, she deeply instilled the idea of selfless service in her children and countless others.

Outside of her work, Barbara found joy in the authentic and beautiful things in life. She loved to travel all over the world to the places she had studied and treasured the experiences and memories that came with seeing and living in new places. A profoundly spiritual woman, she was deeply connected with nature, animals, and music, and found solace in gardening. 

She and George loved cooking and canning what they grew. All their family and friends went home with gifts of delicious homemade applesauce from George’s apple tree (which filled an entire deep freezer every year), and everyone eagerly awaited the annual distribution of their mouth-watering scratch-made Hungarian Kifli pastries filled with apricots or sweet nut paste. 

Above all else, Barbara loved her family and close friends deeply. Her presence brought warmth, laughter, and strength to those around her.

Barbara will be remembered as a strong and independent woman, loving wife, devoted mother, proud grandmother, caring sister, and faithful friend. She lived with grace, curiosity, and a generous heart. Her legacy lives on in the family she loved so dearly and in the many lives she influenced through her teaching, nursing, and kindness. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date in Louisiana. No services will be held locally. Palmer Funeral Home – Bubb Chapel is honored to be assisting the family with final arrangements. 

Memorial Contributions may be donated in Barbara’s name to the Center for Hospice Care, whose dedicated staff provided Barbara with loving and skillful care in her final days: https://foundationforhospice.org/donate/