WAYLAND: Armida Maria “Neta” (DiMeo) Barker, 92, died peacefully at home on September 25, 2017. She was born in Boston on November 9, 1924, the daughter of the late Anthony DiMeo and Maria (Tiberio) DiMeo. Neta is survived by her loving and devoted daughter, Allyson Barker of Watertown. She was the cherished grandmother of Eliza A. Barker of Hamden, CT and is also survived by her daughter-in-law Ruth A. Barker of Hamden. CT. Neta was the wife of the late Allen Noble Barker who died on December 17, 2008 and mother of the late Allen Noble Barker Jr. who died on June 10, 2010. Also survived by several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Sister of the late Mario DiMeo, Lora Chase and Valdimiro DiMeo. Neta has been a resident of Wayland for over 64 years and previously resided in the West End of Boston. She was a graduate of Girls Latin High School. Neta Barker found her calling when, as a young child, she observed ballet classes in Boston. She began her serious ballet training with several teachers and in 1945 she opened a ballet studio in Melrose where she met her husband to be, Allen Barker, a concert pianist. Amazingly, he opened a small studio in the same building on the same month as Neta where he was teaching and preparing for his Masters in Music from the New England Conservatory. They were married in 1949 and moved to Wayland in 1953 from Melrose where Neta taught ballet in private homes and in the Barker house. In 1959, a studio was built connected to their home on Glezen Lane. Her daughter Allyson joined her mother as a full time ballet teacher in 1996. For several summers Neta took her advanced students to study with Ana Roje at the International School in Primosten, Croatia. She was very active with and one time president of the Dance Circle of Boston which invited many famous professional teachers of leading dance companies to teach for five to six weeks. When Neta was 17, she worked in a factory producing parts for the signal corp during World War II and was part of the well-known “Rosie the Riveter Girls”. In addition to the ballet school, Neta directed and choreographed musicals at the Volks Theatre in Wayland and the Concord Players. She will be fondly remembered by all the students, parents, friends and family for her devotion to the arts and her magnificent life. Neta had a strong will and determination to live out her life fully with grace, elegance and dignity which she accomplished to the very end. In 2016 The Barker School of Ballet presented it’s 67th annual recital. A Memorial Service celebrating her life will be held on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at 1:00 PM at the First Parish in Wayland, 50 Cochituate Road (Route 20 and 27/126) in Wayland Center. In lieu of flowers, her family kindly suggests that memorial gifts in Neta’s memory and honor be sent to an Arts organization of your choice.