Barbara M. Kilker
Our "Mimi" & Our Forever Rainbow

On a St. Patrick's Day that felt touched by something more - a meteor in the morning sky, snow that followed, and sunshine breaking through - Barbara M. Kilker, lovingly known as our "Mimi", made her unforgettable exit peacefully and surrounded by loved ones.

If you knew her, you understand: she didn't leave quietly.

She left in a way that made you stop… look up… and wonder.

Because that was her.
Bold. Joyful. A little unexpected. Full of life - and full of color.

Proud to call Cleveland her home, Mimi lived a life built on connection - not as an idea, but as a way of being. She brought people together, paid attention, asked questions, and made sure no one ever felt like they didn't belong.

Students, friends, family, education, and service were the essence of her being.

As a devoted Catholic school teacher, her classroom was more than a place to learn - it was a place where people felt seen. Where curiosity was welcomed, creativity was encouraged, and kindness mattered.

And fittingly, one of the songs that meant the most to her -Rainbow Connection - often found its way into her classroom. Not just as a song, but as a belief:
That there is something connecting all of us. Something we don't always fully understand - but we feel.

She lived like that.
As if every moment, every person, every conversation mattered.

Barbara was also blessed with a circle of lifelong friends - her "CV girl posse" whose laughter, friendship, and unbreakable bond brought her tremendous joy through the years.

Some of her favorite memories were from the years in Vermilion, where close friendships became part of everyday life. Their kids grew up together while the parents shared laughter and built friendships that lasted a lifetime - while losing pennies (literally) to each other during their North Coast Tripoley Clubgames.

But her greatest life's work was family.

She was the beloved daughter of William and Mary Tomc, and a cherished sister to Jerry (Agnes), Richard (Joan), Mary Ann and Michael (Linda) - relationships built over a lifetime of laughter, stories, and love. She adored her many nephews and nieces as her own.

Her children and their beloved husbands, Kelly (Kevin) and Kristen (Bill) who she loved with a steady, unwavering devotion.

Her grandchildren - Justin, Adam, Madeline, and Aidan - each one known and loved for their individuality, followed, supported, celebrated, and deeply loved.

Her bonus grandchildren - Kyle, Amanda, Molly, Zachery, and Addison - were never anything less than family to her.

She showed up. She cheered loudly. She paid attention.

Because she understood something many of us spend a lifetime trying to name:
That what matters most isn't somewhere else.
It's here.
In the connection.

Her life was her rainbow.
Not something distant in the sky - but something lived, every day.

The love that grounded us. The joy that filled every room. The light she brought into ordinary moments. The growth she nurtured in others. The steadiness we could count on. And the deeper sense that we were all part of something together.

She filled our lives with color.
Through years of illness and setbacks, she carried that same spirit - continuing to love, continuing to connect, continuing to show up.

And in the end, the world seemed to reflect her.
A meteor across the sky that morning - bold, fleeting, unforgettable. Snow falling softly - quiet, peaceful. And then the sun breaking through.

Not the rainbow you might expect on St. Patrick's Day…
But maybe something closer to the truth.
A reminder that even when we can't see it, even when we don't fully understand it -
there is something that connects it all.

And now we find ourselves asking the same quiet question:
What's on the other side?

We will see you there, Mimi.

Break out into song and dance. Get another tattoo. Ask a million questions.
And finally – rest easy, knowing how much color you brought into so many lives. Knowing the light you gave will never fade.
You are - and always will be - our rainbow.

A private celebration of life will be held this summer.

Barb requested donations to Generations United, honoring her belief that strong families and communities are built through connection. https://www.gu.org/who-we-are/ways-to-give/

Lake Erie Cremation & Funeral Services, 1500 Harpersfield Road, Geneva, OH 44041 (440) 361-2273 assisted the family with arrangements.

www.LakeErieCrematory.com