Barbara Dorn Hvizdos

The grand matriarch of our family, Barbara Dorn Hvizdos, 88, of Emmaus, left this earth for heaven, March 16th, 2022. Our mourning is tempered by the fact that she left us gradually, maintaining her dignity and allowing her children to say goodbye. Our sorrow is also assuaged by the awareness that our mother lived a very full and pious life with our noble patriarch, our father by her side.

Born in Chicago, IL, Barbara was the daughter of Marie Dorn and Brigadier General James S. Gallagher. She was raised in Latrobe, PA, where she met her one and only love, Leonard J. Hvizdos. While they were high school sweethearts they did not marry till after she attained her Bachelor's degree from Duquesne University School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA. Unwavering in their devotion to each other they married soon after that accomplishment. They celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary earlier this year. Throughout her life our mother was very proud of her degree and profession and while she left the field for many years to raise her children, she did return to it later in life. Proud of her degree, our mother raised all 7 of her children with the determination and expectation that we would all also graduate with college degrees.

A devout Catholic, our mother was a member of St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church and School, Emmaus, where she faithfully attended Mass; although, as a world traveler, she researched where the Catholic churches were where ever she was going and she attended Mass in splendid or simple churches all over the world. Within the Church, over the decades, our mother was a member of the St. Ann's Women's Alliance, serving a term as President, was a volunteer in the school's cafeteria and in the gift shop at Sacred Heart Hospital. She especially enjoyed working in the gift shop! She enjoyed being a Den Mother to Cub Pack 80 for a few years also.

While our mother was very stoic and proper, the silliest things would make her laugh. She was very adventuresome… while on vacation. Afraid of water, she still rode whitewater rapids in Colorado and loved river boat trips. The Delta Queen was her favorite. Our mother rode a wagon on the Oregon trail and hula danced in Hawaii. She loved the excitement of Mexico City and she climbed to the top of ancient Machu Picchu, Peru. She traveled to Europe and the Caribbean but said Alaska was the only place she would move to. She looked at traveling as gaining appreciation for history, the arts and culture so she included her children as much as possible. With her lifetime dancing partner in our father, our mother waltzed and polkaed her way anywhere there was a dance floor and a band to play the music. They stylishly attended many Viennese Waltz weekends where they made many friends in addition to their many friends in Emmaus. Our mother could play bridge for hours, a trait she passed on to her grandchildren. Holiday meals were legendary. There was always room for one or two or three more in her already full household. Our mother made the best apple pie on the planet but some of her other deserts were a bit goofy. Our mother loved the old Hollywood musicals and played "Never Smile at a Crocodile" on the piano a bit too much. She liked the color of turquoise a bit too much also. The colors of the sunlight coming through the old stain glassed windows of St. Ann's Church served her the best.

Besides her devoted husband, our mother is survived by six of her children: Carolyn (Stephen) Wentzel, Kathryn (Anthony) Longo, Alyssa (Monte) DeFrances, Lorraine Douglass, Dianne Hvizdos and Stephen (Susanne) Hvizdos. 13 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her son David (Marilyn) Hvizdos and one grandchild.

Services: 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at Bachman, Kulik & Reinsmith Funeral Home, 225 Elm Street, Emmaus, followed by an 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Emmaus. A viewing will be held from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Tuesday in the funeral home. Interment will be held at Noon on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at St. Vincent Cemetery in Latrobe, PA. Services will be held in the Chapel on the Cemetery Grounds.

In lieu of flowers, she requested that donations be made to St. Ann's Church or School, Emmaus, PA.