Barbara Gonzales Kende died on Sept. 2, surrounded by her immediate family and a close friend.

She was born in Washington state, where she studied ballet and set herself apart as a dancer and honors student. She loved reading, music and Vogue magazine, where she found inspiration for her own unique style. Her poise and sense of self became the guide for her two sisters, who thought of her as their very own fairy princess.

Barbara came to New York after graduating from Wilkes University in Pennsylvania. She continued ballet, which was her early passion, as well as studying voice and acting at the famous HB Studio in Greenwich Village. She later graduated from the Katharine Gibbs School, worked for Business Week magazine and spent most of her professional life as a devoted personal assistant to a prominent member of the Newhouse family.

She met Christopher Kende in 1973 and they married in 1976. She was very devoted to Chris’s father Herbert Kende and they spent many Sunday dinners together. When Herbert died in 1977, she was the rock supporting her husband.

Barbara put her heart and soul into the renovation of Christopher’s Haven, the Edgartown home left to him by his beloved aunt Ilsa Marie Crawley, and into learning how to sail. Sailing became her true passion. On any given Saturday, she could be seen racing her beloved On Y Va with her longtime sailing buddy and close friend Dianne Durawa, as part of the H12 Fleet. They raced together for 30 years, winning several events during that time.

Her happiest days were spent on the String Piece, talking sailing talk with her H12 Fleet friends after a race. She loved her garden filled with lilies and spent hours sitting on the porch of Christopher’s Haven, listening to the birds and the sounds of her beloved home. She was devoted to her family and never forgot a holiday, birthday or Valentine’s Day.

Barbara is survived by Christopher Kende, her devoted husband of 47 years; her brother Gregory Gonzales; sisters Marian Gonzales and Christine Berschauer, along with their husbands; and numerous nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Her memorial service will be held on Friday, Sept. 22 at the Federated Church of Martha’s Vineyard in Edgartown. The service will start at 11 a.m. and will be followed by a reception at the Edgartown Yacht Club located at 1 Dock street.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, P.O. Box 1477, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557. Flowers may be sent through Donaroma’s Floral at 508-627-8366, which is coordinating deliveries.