Barbara A. Kratochvil

There is only so much one person can say about someone who impacted the lives of hundreds, perhaps thousands throughout her own. How does one find the words to describe the person who was the very definition of “charismatic,” the person who truly lived her life to the fullest and never took a day for granted. You would tell me “Oh, just get it done and over with. Keep it short and sweet,” in your cute, positive, up-beat voice. Do I write it from my point of view? How you were the best bonus-mom I could have ever hoped for? How you were such a profound impact of positivity, grounding, and stability that Lord knows I desperately needed as a child, as an adolescent, and even as an adult? Do I write it from the point of view of your family, who loved you dearly? Your friends who adored you so? Do I provide anecdotes and quotes for them to look back on and laugh, giving them something more tangible to hold on to in your memory? Or do I simply state the facts? No, that is not nearly enough. Not for you and all you were. I will surely be writing something much more meaningful in the days to come. For now, I will keep it “short and sweet” just for you. Barbara Ann Kratochvil was brought into the world on January 31st, 1964, by Joe and Elaine Kratochvil of Union, CT where she was raised by the side of her brothers John and Paul, and her sister Karen. Joe and Elaine raised their children to understand the importance of family, friends, and keeping your loved ones close, a principle Barbara chose to live by. While Elaine sadly predeceased Barbara by a few short years, she is survived by her father, brothers, and sister. Barbara leaves behind the love of her life, Jim Barcomb, her two stepchildren, Joseph Barcomb & Jennifer Ziemba, her Son-in-law Thomas Ziemba, and her four granddaughters, Kasandra & Adrianna Barcomb, and Hailey & Melanie Ziemba. She is also survived by her vast family of loving aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and her many cousins of the Hopko family. She will be sorely missed by the world’s greatest friends who were nothing short of sisters to her, as well as her beloved Pretty Girls, her chickens that she loved as her own children. Please join us for services to be held in Barbara’s honor on Saturday, July 13th, 2024, beginning with a wake held from 12:30-2:30pm at Introvigne Funeral Home, Inc., 51 East Main St., Stafford Springs, CT, followed by a Funeral Procession that will travel to Union Center Cemetery, Cemetery Rd., Union, CT, to bring Barbara to her final place of rest. A Celebration of Life to commemorate Barbara and all that she was will be held at Sun Valley Resort Banquet Hall, 51 Old Springfield Rd., Stafford Springs, CT from 4:00-7:00pm. In lieu of flowers, any donations toward alleviating the toll of services can be made to Barbara’s existing Breast Cancer GoFundMe account by clicking the following link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/barbara-kratochvil?lang=en_US&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link To leave a message of sympathy for her family, or for directions, please visit: www.introvignefuneralhome.com

Barbara A. Kratochvil

June 27, 2024