Barbara V. Sniegowski

Barbara Virginia Sniegowski (nee Nowakowski) was born on February 15, 1935 in Toledo, Ohio. She passed away on April 27, 2025 at her home in South Bend, Indiana. She was the daughter of Stephen and Alexandria Nowakowski and sister to eight siblings: Eugene Nowakowski, Leokadia Nowakowski and an unnamed twin who both died shortly after birth, Raymond Nowakowski, Henry Nowakowski, Irene Leith (nee Nowakowski), Stephen Nowakowski, and Wanda Samiec (nee Nowakowski). She married Donald Sniegowski in 1958. She is survived by her sister Wanda Samiec, her son Paul Sniegowski and daughter-in-law Gail Kienitz, daughter Anne Costello and son-in-law Matthew Costello, son Peter Sniegowski, and a host of beloved nieces and nephews. She was a grandmother to nine children: Emma, Simon, Alban, Ben, Mahlon, Eppie, Trudy, Anne, and Lea.

Barbara graduated from Harriet Whitney High School in Toledo, Ohio in 1953 and earned her RN degree from Mercy School of Nursing in Toledo in 1956. After early hospital work as an RN, she worked in private nursing briefly in Toledo and for many years in South Bend, serving the family medical practices of Drs. Raymond Nelson, M.D., Robert Nelson, M.D., and David Clayton, M.D. She also served as private nurse to Marion McCandless, first executive director of the Saint Mary’s College Alumnae Association, in Miss McCandless’s late years. Barbara was known among her family and friends for her strong sense of style and for her compassion and practical helpfulness toward those she served in medical need, both professionally and personally.

A celebration of Barbara’s life will be held at Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, Indiana from 2 PM to 4 PM on May 10th. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Northeast Neighborhood Council, 803 N. Notre Dame Avenue, South Bend, IN 46617 (574-235-9675; https://dev.northeastneighborhood.com/), where Barbara and her late husband Donald were active members for many years.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Barbara V. Sniegowski, please visit our floral store.