Barbara Anne Lackner, 77, a resident of Williamsburg, VA, passed away May 20, 2026 at Hospice House of Williamsburg, following a major stroke.
Barbara was born October 23, 1948 in Brooklyn, NY to the late Emma Albina Tscherne and Joseph Lackner. She graduated from St. Ursula High School and started her career at New York Telephone Co. a Nynex Co., as a switchboard operator and customer service representative, she retire after 25 years service. She then went on to work for United Health Care for 10 years before retiring for good.
She has resided in Williamsburg for the past 20 years with her wife, best friend, and soul mate, Christina Lahl. Prior to that they lived in Kingston, NY. Barbara and Chris met in 1974 and became lifelong partners until marrying in 2014, after 40 years together. The same week gay marriage was legalized in this country.
Barbara loved hiking, gardening, reading, and most of all her fur babies. In the early 1990’s she began training with her dogs and over the years earned many Titles in obedience , agility , and rally. When she moved to Virginia she joined the Merrimack Dog Training Club, Hampton, Virginia to continue doing what she loved most, training her dogs.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents and grandmother, Pauline Tscherne (who raised her from the age of 8).
In addition to her wife and her two fur babies, Pip and Rockie, she is survived by a cousin Walter Stampfl, of Florida.
There will be neither visiting hours nor a funeral service. A private gathering will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers Barbara prefers a donation to your favorite charity.
Her wife wishes to Thank both Hospice House, Riverside Doctors Hospital and Riverside Regional Hospital staff for there excellent care of Barbara.
