Barbara K. Firman

Barbara K. Firman Loving Mother Barbara K. Hellmann Firman, 69, of Erie, passed away Tuesday, January 3, 2006, at Hamot Medical Center. Born in Erie on September 18, 1936, she was a daughter of the late Sylvester and Geraldine (Riddle) Hellmann. She was a 1955 graduate of Villa Maria High School. Barbara was a member of Saint Joseph Church/Bread of Life Community, where she served as a Eucharistic Minister and a weekly committed Adore in the Adoration Chapel. She was also a member of the Healing Roses Society at San Gabriel Valley Medical Center in Calif. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, and babysitting her grandchildren. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, John M. Firman, in 2002; a brother, Paul Hellmann; and two sisters, Audrey Moynihan and Margretta Hellmann. Survivors include her husband of 48 years, John A. Firman; two sons, Stephen Firman, and his wife Colleen; and Christopher Firman, and his wife, Lori, all of Erie; six daughters, Laurie Firman, and, Jeff Gottschling, Michelle Firman, Erie, Jennifer Loren, Santa Barbara, Calif., Ann Marie O’Neil, and her husband William, Naples, Fla., Melanie Soety, and her husband Mark, and Amy Firman, Erie; eight grandchildren, Paul, Patrick and Christina Duris, Chanel and Andre Loren, Brittany Firman, Conner Soety, and Tyler Firman; three step-grandchildren, Carmen, Natalie and Nicholas Toscano; three sisters; and a sister-in-law, Norma Hellmann. Friends may call Friday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Brugger Home for Funerals, 1595 W. 38th St. at Greengarden Blvd. Services will be held there Saturday at 9:15 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Saint Joseph Church/Bread of Life Community, at 10 a.m. Burial in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Healing Rose Garden, San Gabriel Valley Medical Center, 438 W. Las Tunas Dr., San Gabriel, CA 91776. Condolences at bruggerfuneralhomes.com. Sign the guestbook at www.GoErie.com/obits.