Our beloved sister, aunt, and friend passed away peacefully on Friday, February 22, 2019, after a 2-year battle with stomach cancer, at age 78 years. The daughter of the late Bernard and Verna (Swarthout) Federspiel, Barbara was born June 21, 1940, in Saginaw, Michigan. After graduating from Saginaw High School, she proudly served in the United States Navy, achieving the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class during a time when there weren’t very many women in the military.
Upon her honorable discharge from the Navy, she attended Saginaw Valley State College, where she had the opportunity to study abroad in Poland, which she thoroughly enjoyed. In her childhood years, Barbara loved spending time with her family camping up in Glennie, Michigan. As a young adult, life didn’t cheat her out of any fun.
Barbara drove fast sports cars and enjoyed going dancing with her friends at night clubs from Bay City to Detroit. In her advanced years, she became known for her t-shirt collection with quirky sayings that put a smile on the faces of the staff and residents of the Hoyt Nursing Home. Barbara is survived by her sister and brother in law, Jennifer and Jim Kaul.
She also leaves behind several nieces and nephews who lovingly refer to her as “Aunt BAH”. She will always hold a special place in the hearts of her dear and faithful friends, Carolyn Schultz and Patricia Miles. Besides her parents, Barbara was preceded in death by her brothers, James, Richard, Max, Douglas, Thomas, and Jack Federspiel, and her sister, Marie Ann Ozark.
Christian Memorial Service will be held Saturday, March 9, 2019, at 11:00 a.m., at St. Dominic Parish, SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church Site, in the chapel, located at 4735 W. Michigan Ave. , Saginaw, MI 48638.
Rev. Fr. Steve Gavit will officiate.
Visitation will take place at church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Honoring Barbara’s wishes, cremation has taken place. Private interment will take place at a later date at Roselawn Memorial Gardens.
Barbara’s family wishes to extend special thanks to Dr. Vijay Chaku, M.D., the nurses at Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital SICU, and to her caregivers at Hoyt Nursing Home for their kindness and compassion. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Barbara’s name may be made to the Food Pantry at SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, care of the church.
For information, please call Fischer Family Funeral Services at (989) 755-8277. For online condolences, please visit www. fischerfuneral.com.
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