Barbara Villiotti

Barbara Villiotti, adored by her husband Ron Villiotti, and the love of his life, passed away peacefully in Albuquerque, NM on October 16, 2011 after a valiant and hard fought six-year battle with cancer. Barb was born in 1958 to Rita (Hursting) Bumgarner, currently living in Denver, and Dr. Frank E. Bumgarner, Jr. (deceased). Barb graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 1981 with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Music Education and graduated from the University of Denver in 1984 with a Master's Degree in Library Science. Barb taught in the Aurora (Colorado) Public Schools for 29 years. Over her teaching career Barb touched the lives of thousands of students in many of the elementary schools in Aurora instilling a love of music in her students. Her spirit will live on in the appreciation of music exhibited by those students. Barb married her husband, Ron, in 1988 and they were constantly by each other's side ever since. Barb enjoyed traveling, bird watching, listening to music, playing the piano, reading and cooking fantastic meals with her husband. She recently realized her dream of retiring to New Mexico. Her time in her New Mexico home was spent sitting amidst her Pampas Grass and watching the many hummingbirds in her back yard, being awed by the ever changing sunsets on the Sandia Mountains, observing the stars on clear dark nights and being amazed by the multitude of balloons floating nearby during the day and the fireworks at night from the Balloon Fiesta. Barb never lost her sense of wonderment at all things in nature and in the beauty of music. She will be remembered by all who knew her for her caring, positive, smiling nature and never hearing a complaint from her while fighting her many medical battles. Barb is the beloved sister of Patricia Dunn (Larry, deceased), Frank Bumgarner, and Marilyn Bumgarner (Scott Kaltenborn). In addition, she is survived by her mother-in-law Mary Villiotti of Pittsburgh, PA, brothers-in-law Anthony Villiotti (Betsy) and Ralph Villiotti (Cissy) of Pittsburgh and brother-in-law David Villiotti (Jocelyn) of Amherst, NH. Barb is also survived by nieces Trina, Maria, Gina, Idolyn, and Stephanie, nephews David and Anthony and newly arrived grandniece Sophia. Visitation, Thursday and Friday from 4-8PM with a Rosary at 7PM Friday at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd, Lakewood. Funeral Mass at 10AM Saturday at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, 2771 Zenobia St, Denver. A remembrance service for Pittsburgh PA relatives and friends will be held in Pittsburgh in November. In lieu of flowers, send memorial donations to honor and remember Barb, and to extend her music education legacy, to UNC School of Music Scholarship Fund, in care of UNC Foundation, Campus Box 20, Greeley, CO 80639. Please share your memories of Barb and condolences with her family by selecting the ""Sign Guestbook"" link.