Barbara Ruth (Brown) Olbrias

Barbara R. Olbrias, 88, of Mansfield Center, CT passed away surrounded by her loving family on May 15, 2023. She was born in Willimantic, CT, the daughter of the late George and Anna (Warrender) Brown.

Barbara spent her working career in the medical suturing manufacturing industry, she took joy in collecting and if you were in her home during the Christmas season you would see an amazing and thoughtfully put together Christmas village that took up a lot of her living room,  she also had a love and talent for crocheting and took that love and talent to crochet full size blankets for a number of her 20 grand and great grandchildren. Barbara was a loving wife and mother, grandmother and great grandma and that is what she loved the most.

She is survived by her children Debra Vigneault and her husband Linwood, Richard Cooper and his wife Elaine, Gary Cooper and his wife Laurie, and Edward Olbrias, Jr. and his wife Barbara, sister Doris Bean, ten grandchildren Christina Brookes, Ryan Cooper, Melissa Kennelly and her husband Justin, Andrew Brookes and his wife Vanessa, Benjamin Brookes and his wife Natalia, Edward Olbrias, III, Amy Szirbik and her husband Shawn, Eric Olbrias, Julia Cooper, and Emerson Cooper, ten great grandchildren Giovanni Mason-Brookes, Samantha Cruz, Nicholas Brookes, Olivia Brookes, Raelynne Kennelly, Reeves Kennelly, Ava Brookes, Guinevere Szirbik, Elizabeth Szirbik, and Alexander Szibik, and several nieces and nephews. Barbara was predeceased by her husband Edward Olbrias, Sr., brother-in-law Merrill Bean, sister Marian “Pat” Blackburn and her husband Gordon.

Her family will receive relatives and friends on Friday, May 19, 2023 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St. Willimantic. Her burial will be at a later date.

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