Barbara M. Siciliano

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Barbara M. Siciliano

May 31, 1931 ~ July 12, 2018

Barbara M. Siciliano (Nani) went to heaven on July 12, 2018.  She fought a valiant battle with heart failure and is now in the arms of the Lord, and dancing with her love.

She was born in Salt Lake City on May 31, 1931 to Josephine  and Anthony Oliver. She married her one and only earthly love, Joe V. Siciliano Jr., on August 1, 1950.  She attended St. Mary’s of the Wasatch and Stevens-Henager Business College.

Barbara met the love of her life in a unique style, as a baby, when Joe Jr. was introduced to her as a toddler. Upon seeing her in the bassinette, his dad remarked, “You are looking at your future wife.” These words came true 19 years later.

As in all marriages, life was difficult at times, but with God in the center of everything they did, they pushed through and were never more in love than on the day she had to say goodbye to Joe in 2014.

With mom, her greatest accomplishment was as a mother. Not only was she a devoted mother to her own five daughters, but was mother in kind to many of her daughters’ friends.  Mom had the gift of loving the unlovely and those who struggled in their own families. She was faithful to the core of her being and a confidante in whom many felt safe to share their hurts and thoughts. She carried music, art, family and friends in her soul. She never squandered her time, but used it to bless others. In her early years she was an accomplished pianist. Joe and Barbara loved to entertain their friends, singing together as she played. She was deeply devoted to God, to the point that she even considered becoming a nun in her younger years, but her father told her “no.” Her children and God’s people became her lifelong ministry. She belonged to “BSF” for five years and faithfully served the ministry of Aglow Int’l for over 20 years.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Paul Oliver; husband, Joe. V. Siciliano Jr.; daughter Paula Siciliano; and granddaughter Tiffany McMurtrey.  She is survived by her daughters: Toni (Steve) McMurtrey, Anna (Gus) Siciliano and Michelle (Ken) Imber; six grandchildren and three great- grandchildren.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, July 20, 2018 at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas More Catholic Church. Arrangements entrusted to Starks Funeral Parlor. Online condolences may be offered at www.starksfuneral.com.