Barbara W Cortese

Barbara W. Cortese

Our sweet and beautiful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away May 2, 2017. She was born August 11, 1927, to Grant Nicholson and Leone Wayman Weiler. Barbara grew up in Salt Lake City, graduating from Granite High School in 1945. After graduating she attended the University of Utah and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She was voted in as a sorority attendant in her freshman year and was beautiful inside and out. Barbara married her High School sweetheart, Fred Cortese on June 25, 1947, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. He was the love of her life.

Barbara’s greatest accomplishment was her family. She was the mother of four children and a woman of great faith, tenderness and instinctive wisdom. She was a bright ray of sunshine to all who knew her and had a special knack in bringing out the best in everyone. People were naturally drawn to her because of her genuine personality and fun loving nature. She was kind, loving and generous. Family gatherings were always joyful, filled with laughter, great food and big hugs. She loved playing board/card games, lemon meringue pie, mint chocolate chip ice cream, fresh lemonade, and long stem red roses. Barbara was a beautician for many years, working in her beauty salon at home. She blessed countless lives through her selfless acts of kindness. Together with her husband Fred, they owned and operated two Arctic Circle Restaurants and a Jiffy Lube in the Salt Lake Area. She enjoyed summers at the family cabin and winters in St. George with family and dear friends.

She has always been a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, serving in many callings. She and her husband Fred were called to serve three years in the Liberty Stake Eighth Ward. As her family, we want to honor the noble life she has lived and will miss her sweet spirit and guiding influence in our lives forever.

Barbara is preceded in death by her parents; husband Fred, and Brother Grant W. Weiler; She is survived by her children, Terry Cortese (Jan), Julie Duncan (Gary), and Linda Thomas (Sam), Jim Cortese (Renee) and eight grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. Our family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the staff at The Wellington, Comfort Worx, Craig, (P.T. coach) and Latu, (Night angel) for their kind and loving care of our mother.

Funeral services will be held at noon on Monday, May 8, at Valley View 12th Ward, 2125 Evergreen Avenue in Salt Lake City, Utah. The family will greet friends from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Interment at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Cemetery, 3401 S Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah. In Lieu of flowers, donate to your favorite charity. Convey condolences to www.Wasatchlawnsmortuary.com