Barbara Ulfsparre

In the early morning hours of Sunday February 23, 2020, Barbara Ann Ulfsparre passed peacefully in her sleep. She will rest eternally with Lars Ulfsparre, her husband of 42 years. Lars preceded her with his death in 1995. A form of dementia slowly began settling in over Barbara almost nine years ago, ultimately limiting her ability to entirely care for herself. After a period of assisted independence, she relaxed in the comfort of her home under the care of her son and daughter-in-law. Barbara will be interred with Lars at Bath National Cemetery located in Bath, New York.

Barbara was born May 3rd in 1931 in a hospital in Upper Darby Pennsylvania. She is the firstborn child to Frank James and Mary (May) Burdett. She was 88 at the time of her passing. She is survived by hers and husband Lars's five children: Astrid Ulfsparre Weinkle, Karlen Ann Murray, Eric Ulfsparre and his wife Laura, Janet Bronte, and Kristen Ulfsparre. A viewing and rosary prayer will be held at Charles Smith Funeral Home in Sachse, Texas beginning at 6 pm Friday, February 28. A funeral Mass at Saint Anthony Catholic Church in Wylie, Texas will be at 12:30 pm Saturday, February 29.

Barbara's youth was growing up in the Paschall neighborhood of Southwest Philadelphia attending Patterson Elementary, Tilden Middle, and John Bartram public schools. She and two younger brothers spent entire summers at a family beach house in Stone Harbor, New Jersey. A wonderfully outgoing and warm person, she was president of her graduating class at Bartram. Barbara was the first woman to attain the president's post at Bartram and her younger brother followed her in attaining the office three years later. She was a member of many clubs but especially enjoyed representing her school on the swim team, specializing in the backstroke. Along with all her activities, she graduated second in her class in 1949. She was awarded a full four-year scholarship to Temple University. At Temple, she managed her way in dually receiving her Bachelor's and Master's degrees at the same graduation ceremony in 1953. Her two younger and much beloved sibling brothers, Frank Robert Burdett of Galveston, and David James of San Jose departed several years before her in their deaths.

Lars Ulfsparre took her as his bride shortly after her graduation from Temple University. The newlywed couple began their family of five children in Poughkeepsie, New York. Later, the family relocated to Pittsford, finally settling in Rochester, New York for more than 30 years. Barbara was a homemaker, an avid bowler, a scout leader in the Girl Scouts, and taught in the Pittsford Central Elementary and Middle schools. She later accepted a position at the Genesee Valley Newspapers in Pittsford and eventually rose to the firm's position of editor for its Brockport Post hometown newspaper. In retirement, Barbara kept herself busy with her craft projects and as a checker at Topps Supermarkets. In 2001 she relocated to Dallas Texas. In Dallas, she worked many years at Walmart before retiring finally.

In her retirement, Barbara relished time spent keeping busy with her crafts, knitting and crocheting, and her journaling. She produced countless shawls, scarves, hats, sweaters, and afghans—never going anywhere without her yarn. All her creations were prayed over as she worked them and then given freely to homeless and crisis pregnancy organizations. Barbara will be best remembered as an eternal friend of the many whose lives she connected with and, her nine grandchildren, Valerie and James Bronte, Max Ulfsparre, Brette and Daena Weinkle, Laura Weinkle-Finder, Terah and Erica Murray, and Christopher Matthew. A great-grandchild is due in August.

In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to Saint Joseph's Residence, 330 West Pembroke Avenue, Dallas, TX, 75208. Saint Joseph's Residence is a wonderfully caring assisted living facility in Dallas. https://www.stjr.org/donate