Barbara M. Kitz

Barbara M. Kitz March 13, 1937- January 15 2009 Born in Dessau Germany. Experienced WWII at a young age and all the trauma that war brings. She came to this country with her family at age 19 in 1956. Mom always said the 50's were the best years in this country. Only two years after arriving she met the love of her life, our dear father Willi. They spent 48 years of marriage together. They were each others constant companions. Mom spent many years doing all the accounting work for Dad's office machine business, which did quite well. In her younger days she enjoyed gardening, traveling and raising her children. She said we were her greatest joy. She was a devoted mother to Charlie (Lisa), Anthony (Kim Ford), and Suzanne Rohlfes (Chris). She had the pleasure of seven grandchildren, Max, Lindsey, Madison, Anika, Katrina, Erika, and Bobby. She showered them and all she knew with gifts of various kinds. This was her way. She is also survived by brother John (Cathy) Francioch, and sister Doris (Monty) Steadman who we all spent many Holidays and vacations with in the early days. She was a woman of fierce independence and great personal strength, who struggled in the last couple years with the dementia that stole her mind. She finally had succumbed to the effects of it and other health conditions following a fall at home in December. She spent her last days in the comfort of the home she loved with family and great caregivers Nisa and Leslie at her side. She was a devoted Catholic, who loved the Lord, and now is in his care. She will join her parents Anneliese and John Francioch in God's heavenly Kingdom. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, January 23, 2009 at 1:00 PM at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church at 1721 Hillside Drive in Burlingame. Committal will follow at Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in Los Altos. Her family appreciates donations to St. Anthony Foundation, 121 Golden Gate, San Francisco 94102.