Barbara Agnes (Filipowicz) vanderMars passed away in her home on the evening of July 20th 2022 due to chronic health battles. She was a very talented person and could light up any room with her sense of humor. She was the daughter and last of 8 children in her family. She was known by many in her family as “crazy aunt Susie.” She was a high school All-American basketball player when she played for Great Falls High School in the early 1980s. She was a power forward for a basketball team that went 72-0. She was offered scholarships at over 20 schools to play basketball. She was married for 37 years and had a lovely daughter. She received her bachelor’s degree in business. She worked for a very long time for the State of Montana at the State Auditor’s Office helping consumers get their claims fixed. More than anything she loved being a grandma to her granddaughter, Mia. When she was with her granddaughter nothing else in the world mattered to her. She loved rock and roll music and being silly with Mia. She shared a recent trip to the Pacific Ocean with her daughter, granddaughter, and son-in-law that was magical and will not soon be forgotten. Mom stated that before she died she wanted to visit the ocean with Mia and that wish came true just a few months prior to her death.
She is preceded in death by Stella Rose Filipowicz (mother), Alexander Joseph Filipowicz (father), Carol Hand (sister), Michael Filipowicz (brother), Sandy Gordon
(sister) and many friends along the way. She is survived by her daughter, Michelle vanderMars, son-in-law, Corey Stelling, and her granddaughter Mia Stelling. She
is also Survived by her sister, MaryAnne Molineux, her brother, Joey Filipowicz, Jimmy Filipowicz, and Tommy Filipowicz. She also is survived by many wonderful nieces and nephews that she adored spending many get togethers at her house. She loved to host her entire family for Easter for many years. She loved all her many friends from her years growing up in Great Falls and Havre. She is Survived by her best friend from elementary school, Rina Fontana Moore. She is survived by her best friend Rose Empey, from the many years of her life that she lived in Utah. She is survived by her high school friend, Joanna Anderson. She is survived by all the wonderful friendships she developed during her years of service at the Montana state Auditor’s office.
Please join us on Friday August 5th at 11 am for a celebration of her life. This will
take place at a pavilion at Spring Meadow State Park. Please join us for food and
sharing of fond memories of Barbara at this time. You may send final wishes and
condolences to her daughter, Michelle vanderMars at 1155 Guthrie Rd Apt 3,
Helena, MT 59602
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Sandy Schmidt Pepos says
I am not sure where to begin. I met Barb when she worked for the State Auditor’s Office and she was my go to person on claims and issues. She guided me on the law and a variety of issues – I appreciated her honesty and her humor. She cleared up a great number of my client’s claims with professionalism and grace. She and I would talk about Great Falls – her days as a Lady Bison and playing those fine years for the Blue.
I am so sorry about reading about her death and send thoughts and prayers to her family and friends.