Barbara Theresa (Schneider) Przybilla

Barbara Przybilla
August 2, 1941- May 27, 2019

Our cherished Mom,  beloved friend, neighbour, sister, Oma and Great Grandma Barbara Przybilla, age 77 of Millet, Alberta, passed away peacefully with family by her side on May 27, 2019 at the Leduc General Hospital after a brief few days of comfort care.  The long journey of slowly declining health due to osteoporosis, chronic back pain, cognitive challenges, and kidney disease was joined for only a short time with respiratory compromise due to both kidney and heart failing also.  She grew weary the last few days but was still able to show us that her spirit, humour and feisty strength remained intact deep inside.  Here in this life she was a conduit of love from above to all she met.  And the ones left behind…we have peace in our hearts knowing with absolute certainty that our little Oma is now gently held in the endless exquisite joy of Gods love.

Barbara will be remembered by all who loved her who loved her for her beautiful smile, cute sense of humour, her unending optimism, hospitality, spunk, energy, positive outlook in life, resilience, empathy, always putting her compassion and concern for others before her own needs. Barbara loved little children and babies, animals, nature, flowers, doing crafts, visiting with friends new and old; playing games, music, singing, dancing and the quiet joys of farm life.

Barbara was born in the small town of Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, Germany during the Second World War.  Times were very difficult for the family for many years.  Eventually the opportunity to emigrate to Canada was realized in May of 1954 with a new life starting in the Strathcona region of Edmonton.  Survival as new immigrants not knowing the language and having limited finances made it necessary for everyone in the family to pitch in and help any way they could.  But no matter what, there was always a warm welcome and warm meal for anyone who stopped to visit.  Young friends gathered frequently and the Schneider house for parties on Saturday nights.  Barbara was busy with school and part time jobs but would have a lot of fun tagging along with her older brothers to dances, summer days at the beach, and camping trips with the gang to the mountains. She met her first and only love Siegfried when she was only 12 years old and he was 21….so she had to wait very patiently for quite a few years until the time was right for love to bloom.  Wedding bells rang on October 1, 1960 followed by many busy early years raising the family in Edmonton.  Summers of family fun were had with many camping trips and weeks spent in the Okanagan helping Oma and Opa Przybilla pick fruit at their orchard. In 1977 a new chapter of life started with the move out to the farm south of Calmar.  For the next 40 years Barbara and Sieg worked side by side in all aspects of this new life loving every minute.  As the seasons passed, life was blessed with the love many friends, the family grew and many adventures and cherished memories were made in the decades of Sunday dinners; and  family gatherings at the farm for all the Holiday feasts over the years. Hospitality and warm welcomes were always the rule at the Przybilla home for anyone, any time.

Barbara is survived by children Christina Barbara Bredin (Colin), Mark Peter Przybilla (Joanne), Cindy Ann Przybilla; grandsons Connor Jackson Bredin (Monica), Ryan Cecil Bredin (Natalie), Cameron Siegfried Bredin (Erin), Mitchell Przybilla (Elodie),  Logan Przybilla (Summer), great grandchildren Ava and Carson Bredin, Brother Wolfgang Schneider (Ute), sister-in-laws Hilda Przybilla and Martha Schneider, numerous nieces and nephews including Nancy, Julie (Dale), Jason (Jani), Angel (Brian), Monika (Gary), Rein (Ila).
Barbara has been preceded in death by several good friends and her once in a lifetime love and husband Siegfried Reinhold Przybilla, parents Hugo and Ina Schneider (nee  Ernestine Luise Markert) brothers Joseph (Anna) Schneider and Peter Schneider; brother-in-law Gotthard Przybilla, Mother and Father-in-law Emma (nee Speer) and Reinhold Przybilla.

A Celebration of Life for Barbara is planned for Saturday June 22, 2019.  At 1:00 p.mm there will be a short graveside service and interment of ashes of Barbara and Siegfried Przybilla at St Norbert’s Catholic Cemetery, Millet, Alberta.   At 2:30 p.m. the Celebration of Life will be officiated by Pastor Jeff Gooderham at the Best Western Wayside Inn, Wetaskiwin, Alberta.  The location is in the lower level (elevator is available) in the Centennial  Ballroom with  lunch and fellowship to follow. If required, overnight accommodation is available at the Best Western Wayside Inn, or nearby Super 8 and Travel Lodge in Wetaskiwin.

If friends so desire, donation may be made in Barbara’s memory to the Wetaskiwin and District Association for Community Service  at 5211-54 St Wetaskiwin, Alberta T9A 1T2 Ph: 780-352-2241 to help them continue their work with the care and inclusion of the wonderful special needs members of our community.

The family wishes to extend a huge thank you to the nurses on Unit 22 of the Leduc General Hospital for their kindness and compassion helping to ensure her last days were comfortable.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Barbara Theresa (Schneider) Przybilla, please visit our floral store.