Barbara Ann Courselle

    Barbara passed away peacefully in her home and was presented into the arms of God on March 24, 2024 after a long battle with heart and lung disease.

    She was born on January 25, 1935 in Pittsburgh, PA to Dr. Paul J. and Ruth Rosalie Lilly. She had 8 siblings (Elizabeth McGowan, Francis Lilly, Robert Francis Lilly, Ruth Stehle, Theresa Schwan, Joan Mitchell, Nancy Malady and Cecile Giddings).

  Barbara was very thankful that her parents sent her to Catholic schools and passed on their faith to her. She attended St. Elizabeth Grade School and St. Paul’s Cathedral High School, both outside the city of Pittsburgh. In high school, Barbara was known as being quiet and liked by everyone. She was a member of the student council, the glee club, and the Mission Club. She graduated high school in 1952.

  Her first job was at Mellon Bank. There she received accolades for her hard work and her ability to balance books that were difficult to balance. Her parents and some siblings moved out to California shortly after her graduation. Barbara stayed in the Pittsburgh area for about a year but decided to move to California, at 20 years of age, after coming out for her sister’s wedding and realizing how much she missed her family.  It was at her sister’s wedding that she met her husband of 67 years, Dan Courselle.

  Dan and Barbara lived in Temple City, Arcadia, Santa Maria, and Ventura California before settling, for the remainder of Barbara’s life, in Camarillo California, in 1964. There they raised 9 children (Ann Marie O’Grady, Debbie Mattern, Greg Courselle, Francine Morrison, Therese Norris, Noreen McCord, Karl Courselle, Janice Courselle and Paul Courselle) and eventually constructed a home for their family.  She had 2 children with cystic fibrosis and was an excellent caregiver to them. Barbara hoped she’d be remembered for being a good wife and mother. She certainly earned that title and even received the “Mother of the Year” award for being such a selfless mother.

  Barbara was an active member of St. Mary Magdalen Church for 60 years. She attended daily mass and was a Eucharistic Minister and Lector for many of those years and was a member of her parish Charismatic Prayer Group as well as the Cenacle for the Marion Movement of Priests.  She worked in accounting for the church’s school and parish for about 25 years before retiring at the age of 82 for health reasons. Barbara loved her job at the church and would have continued working there even longer if she could have.

  Even when Barbara could no longer physically attend church services, she enjoyed watching Mass online. She received Communion regularly, thanks to her wonderful clergy, family and church friends. Besides being a wife and mother, her faith and her church were a huge part of her identity. Barbara touched the lives of many people with her selfless prayers and concern for others, and many people touched her life and were a great comfort to her, especially in her later years.

  Barbara is survived by her husband, 8 of her children, 3 sisters, 23 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren.

  In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at cff.org.

  ....Family in the care of Alison Balding, Funeral Arranger