Eileen Violet Barrett

Eileen Violet (Ganschow) Barrett was born in Plankinton, South Dakota on September 3, 1925. She was the second of seven children born to George and Alberta (Tielebein) Ganschow. She is survived by her youngest brother Don. Her father worked as a boilermaker for the railroad and moved the family to Palo Alto, California in 1942 to seek a better life. He purchased a Flying A service station there and Eileen and her younger sister Verna Mae, along with their mother were the first women in town to work at pumping gas for customers, which normally was a man's domain. She graduated from Palo Alto high school and eventually went to work for the Shell Oil Company in Martinez, California. 

While at Shell she met a WW II Navy veteran named Frank Barrett. They were married in June of 1949. They started their family in Martinez with their children Joan (Peros), Dan, and Bob being born there. The family moved to Castro Valley to start the Barrett's Sky Ranch swim club which opened in 1958. While there, Eileen gave birth to their fourth child, Betty Jean (Levin). Eileen worked to support the swim club while raising her 4 children, a busy life indeed. She later worked for many years as a school secretary. Eileen instilled many important virtues and values to her children including raising them in the Catholic faith. She imparted a high value in education, encouraging all of her children to obtain their college degrees. Eileen loved music and a favorite childhood memory of her children was listening to her play the piano in their family home. Her daughters followed in her footsteps in learning the piano as well. After Eileen and Frank divorced in 1975, she worked at the Safeway Stores corporate office in Fremont, CA. She earned an Associates in Arts degree from Chabot College in Hayward and traveled abroad. 

Eileen later met Harlin Curtis and they married in 1989. She retired from Safeway stores, and they enjoyed their years together until Harlin's passing. They particularly enjoyed traveling with their travel club in the western US from Seattle to Cabo San Lucas. Eileen also devoted a lot of her time volunteering at the Senior Center in Gilroy and pursing her artistic talents in crafts and painting. Eileen was affectionately referred to as Oma by her 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Sadly, her daughters preceded her in death, with Betty Jean passing in 2021 and Joan's passing in 2023. 

In 2021 due to the COVID restrictions in California, her daughter Joan arranged for Eileen to move to St Marys, Kansas to resume a full and active life. She embraced living with her grandson Nickolas Peros and his wife Jenny along with her five great grandchildren, regularly attending mass at the Immaculata, enjoying festivals, school concerts and road trips. She loved taking care of the great grandchildren. Nickolas and Jenny's wonderful care was strengthened by outstanding support from neighbors, friends, family and the faith filled community of the Immaculata. In her final days, she had an incredible team of caregivers and nurses who played a critical role in her comfort and care. She passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family and friends with everything the church has to offer, including the last sacraments and Apostolic blessing. 

Requiem Mass will be at 11:00 AM Friday, June 21, 2024, at the Immaculata Church. Interment will be in Our Lady of Peace Cemetery. Mrs. Barrett will lie in state from 2:00 until 4:00 P.M. Thursday, June 20, 2024, at Piper Funeral Home. A Rosary will be recited at 5:20 PM Thursday evening, June 20, 2024, at the Immaculata. 

Memorial contributions in Eileen’s memory may be made to the Wamego Community Foundation FBO: the Joyful Hearts fund, P.O. Box 248, Wamego, KS 66547 or left in care of Piper Funeral Home. The Joyful Hearts fund was established recently in the local area to provide educational therapies and learning resources for local children with disabilities and assist in providing care to the elderly. To donate directly to the Joyful Hearts fund, please click on the following link below: https://www.wamegocf.org/donate/Joyful-Hearts-Fund