Barbara M. Wiechec

Barbara M. Wiechec, 80, passed away on May 5, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona. She shared 61 loving years of marriage with her husband, Joseph J. Wiechec. Together, they made Arizona their home for 53 years after moving from their native New York.
Born in Buffalo, N.Y., Barbara was the eldest daughter of Lucy (Ilecki) and Matthew Trybuskiewicz. She graduated in 1962 from St. Mary's High School in Lancaster, N.Y. Barbara earned certificates in pastoral ministry and care of the sick from the Kino Catechetical Institute in Phoenix and the Arizona Department of Health Services. With compassion and dedication, she served for over a decade as a funeral pre-arrangement counselor with Catholic Cemeteries in the Diocese of Phoenix, helping individuals and families prepare thoughtfully for end-of-life services.
Barbara will be remembered for her deep love of family, faith, and heritage. She took great joy in family gatherings and celebrations-always honoring the family's Polish traditions. To her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she was affectionately known as Babcia, the Polish word for grandmother.
She had a zest for life and found joy in dancing, baking, flowers, books, and travel. Whether admiring the serenity of the desert or the beauty of the ocean, Barbara cherished the world's vibrant colors.
Barbara was a parishioner at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church and a member of the parish WINGS (Women in Gabriel's Spirit) organization.
She is survived by her beloved husband, Joseph, and their children: Marie Gonzales, Nancy Wiechec, Andrew Wiechec, and Camille Williams. Also surviving her are her children's spouses and partners: Tommy Bishop, Thomas Phelan, Harold Schmidt, and Wayne Williams; her grandchildren: Ashley (Williams) Beeman, Danielle Gonzales Maez, Nicole (Williams) Perez, and Matthew Gonzales; seven great-grandchildren; and her sisters, Susie Kemmer and Mary Ann Meyer.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Lucy and Matt; her brother, Larry Trybus; and her son-in-law, Pedro J. Gonzales.
A Rosary and Mass of Resurrection takes place on Monday, May 19, at 11 a.m. at St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church in Cave Creek, Ariz. Interment will follow at Holy Redeemer Catholic Cemetery in Cave Creek.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Marianist Mission or Hospice of the Valley.