Mrs. Barberin is the adoptive mother of the protagonist Remi in the anime Ie Naki Ko, based on Hector Malot's novel Sans Famille. She lives with Remi in the village of Chavanon, France, while her husband Jerome works as a stonecutter in Paris. She is a gentle, kind-hearted woman who cares for Remi as if he were her own son, despite not being his biological mother. Remi was found as an abandoned baby by Jerome and brought home in the hope of a reward, but Mrs. Barberin grows to love him deeply and provides him with a warm, stable home. When Jerome returns after a long absence, injured and embittered, he insists that Remi must be sent to the workhouse or sold to a travelling entertainer. Mrs. Barberin is heartbroken by this decision and tries to protect Remi, but she is unable to prevent Jerome from selling him to the street performer Vitalis. Her role in the story is that of a loving, protective figure who represents the safety and happiness of Remi's early childhood. She is a source of emotional strength for Remi, and her memory gives him hope during his difficult journey. Later in the series, Remi returns to visit her, and she welcomes him with the same unconditional love. Her relationship with Jerome is strained by his harshness, and she often acts as a mediator. She has no special abilities beyond her deep maternal affection and her hardworking nature as a farmer's wife. Throughout the anime, she remains a constant symbol of home and unconditional love, and her character does not undergo major change; she is steadfast in her devotion. Her quiet strength and enduring kindness are central to Remi's motivation to find his place in the world.