Belen Nelsa Bark was born October 15, 1943 at what was then the French Hospital in Manhattan, NY.

She worked at Key Foods in Malverne in the afternoons and evenings while attending high school and within days after graduation, Belen relocated to Greenwich Village, where she waitressed at Gerties Folk City and then worked as a model David Crystal.

In 1971 she married Peter David Bark.

Ever the Entrepreneur, Belen had a successful nail business, ParaphiNAILia, a chain of quiche bakeries, Quiche and Tell, a bed and breakfast, The Belenwood Inn, and an ironing service, Mrs. Sheffield’s Ironing. Belen had a popular comedy column, “All Bark and No Bite,” in the Three Village Herald. Belen was active in the Carriage House Players, both behind the curtains as a makeup artist and on stage as scenery. Her role as “record store customer” in Cactus Flower earned high accolades.

In the mid-1980s, Belen went to nursing school and earned her LPN. She received awards at Duke Medical Center, Beth Israel, and UNC-Chapel Medical Center. 

After retiring, Belen volunteered her time at Carter Burden Luncheon Club every Tuesday. Everyone loved her and called her grandma. Belen also worked as an extra and can be seen in the background of many movies and television shows that filmed in New York City. She was a first responder at Ground Zero and received an award of recognition from then mayor, the now disgraced Rudy Giuliani.

Above all her children and grandchildren and husband of 52 years, Belen’s true love was Manhattan. She’d walk from the Upper East Side to Washington Square Park and then back just to enjoy the splendor. Her favorite spots were the Boathouse in Central Park, Café Saint Barts, and 10022, the café in the Saks Fifth Avenue shoe department and many others.

Belen passed on October 5th of natural causes. She is survived by her adoring husband, Peter David Bark; her sons David and Michael Bark, her daughter, Bethann Bark Wolfe; her two daughters-in-law, Angela and Rosana; her six granddaughters, Siovhan, Kat, Caroline, Sam, Carly, and Ava; and her four grandsons, Kadin, Grady, Brady and Dean. She is also survived by her brother Lou Abraham and his wife Kathleen Booth and a slew of fans and admirers.

Service will be held at 1:30pm Sunday, Riverside Memorial Chapel, 180 West 76th Street

New York, NY 10023

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