Barbara Starbala

1928 - 2014

Barbara (Piwarska) Starbala, 85, of Wethersfield, passed away on March 15, 2014. Barbara was born on April 18, 1928 in Poland and was a World War II work camp survivor. She married Edmund F. Starbala in 1949 in Rochdale, Lancashier, England, where many war survivors were sent after being liberated. Barbara immigrated to the United States in 1955 and was a long time resident of New Britain, CT. She was proud to become a Naturalized Citizen in 1966. Barbara was predeceased by her ex-husband, Edmund F. Starbala, and her longtime companion Adolph J. Nesta, both of New Britain, CT. Barbara is survived by her sons Steve "Roman" Starbala who was born in 1951 and currently resides with his wife Beverly in Westmore, VT and her son Henry Starbala who was born in 1958 and resides in Moodus, CT and his girlfriend, Joann Bellamo. Her loving grand-daughters Jade (Starbala) Deming and her husband Marshall of Hartford, CT and Lauren (Starbala) Masterson and her husband Bryan of Colchester, CT. She also leaves behind her former daughter-in-law Amanda (Jenislawski) Starbala and her wife Skye Garofalo of Moodus, CT. Her beloved cat Shee-Shee. Barbara's life was bitter-sweet her mother passed during child birth and at the age of seven to be confronted with the wrath of war living in Warsaw. After immigrating to the United States Barbara worked most of her life as a waitress for many restaurants the Chinese Hitching Post and the Silo where she made many great friendships, she finished her career with the State of Connecticut as a cook for DMR. Barbara was known as Babcia to her grand-daughters and their friends. There was nothing more that Babcia loved than feeding her grand-daughters: pierogies, borscht, gwumkies, and potato pancakes. Babcia valued her small, close-knit, wacky family and we will continue to value her as our strong-willed, beautiful, kind-hearted grandmother. She will always be remembered for her love of the horses at OTB and her lucky streaks, her joy of cooking and making the best soups ever, pickle, beet, and chicken. When caring for her grand-daughters, it became quite the family joke if the girls didn't want to eat something she prepared, she'd put whipped cream on it. Relatives and friends may pay their respects to celebrate Barbara's life on Saturday March 22, 2014 at 12 noon, Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church, 31 Main Street, East Haddam, CT. Memorial contributions can be made to the American Diabetes Association, 2080 Silas Deane Highway, 2nd Floor, Rocky Hill, CT 06067.