Barbara Keating

Palm Springs resident Barbara Keating, 72, a widowed grandmother and mother of five grown children, was an active member of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church.

For eight years, Keating had worked with the Altar Society--the “ladies’ guild”--and assisted the nonprofit Catholic Charities group, according to Linda Sardone, the church’s office manager.

“About six months ago, she became a volunteer in the parish office,” Sardone said. “Every morning, without fail, she would be there helping out.”

Keating was returning home after a vacation in Cape Cod and a visit with family on the New Jersey shore.

Tuesday night, about 300 parishioners at St. Theresa’s met and prayed for Keating and the other victims of the day’s violence.

“She was a kind, gentle lady. . . . She always had a smile on her face,” Sardone said. “Very religious. Not only did she go to church, but she lived her faith.

“There are not many people like that left in the world.”