Barbara Ann ‘Barb’ Colotto Gowans – Belle Vernon
Barbara Ann “Barb” Colotto Gowans, 77, of Belle Vernon, passed away Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, at her home alongside her loving family. Born March 15, 1943, in Pittsburgh, she was the daughter of the late William and Evelyn Loftus Colotto. A resident of Belle Vernon for the past 43 years, she was a long-standing member of St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church, Belle Vernon. Barbara, better known as “Barb from Duritza’s,” was the store manager for 35 years until her retirement in 2010. Prior to working at Duritza’s, she was employed at Kroger in Pittsburgh. Barb retired to spend more time with her family and to travel. She loved to live life to the fullest. Whether it was spending time on her boat cruising the river, skiing down the slopes, traveling the world or heading to Steelers games, she was always up for adventure. Some of her most memorable vacations were traveling to Walt Disney World with her grandsons, skiing the slopes of Vail, Colo., with her daughter and traveling to Ireland, Italy and Greece with her sisters. She worked hard and played harder. She is survived by her only daughter and son-in-law, Darlene and Randy Maglet of Speers; her two beloved grandsons, Jonathan Maglet and Jason Maglet; four sisters, Betty Duritza of Weirton, W.Va., Evelyn Miller of Pittsburgh, Cecelia Klingensmith of Pittsburgh and Maryann Arnold of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; three brothers and sisters-in-law, William and Peggy Colotto of Toledo, Ohio; John and Lisa Colotto of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; and Steve and Jennifer Colotto of Wadsworth, Ohio; 35 nieces and nephews; and 40 great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother, Robert Colotto; two nephews, Kirk Miller and Tracy Colotto; and four brothers-in-law, Robert Duritza, William Miller, Rusty Klingensmith and Jerry Arnold. Private funeral services will be held for the family. Barb’s funeral arrangements are entrusted to PARZYNSKI FUNERAL HOME & CREMATIONS LLC, family owned and operated, 626 Broad Ave., Belle Vernon, 724-929-6183. Condolences accepted at the funeral home’s website, www.parzynskifuneralhome.com.
