Sylvia Rapley

Sylvia Josephine Barta Rapley, 81, of Great Falls, passed away on January 13, 2014 at her home surrounded by her children and grandchildren.There will be a celebration of life reception for those who knew Sylvia on Saturday, January 18, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in the reception room of Schnider Funeral Home, with Chaplin Maxima Cox giving a short eulogy. Interment will be a private ceremony with only children in attendance at a later date. Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements.Sylvia Josephine Barta was born in Kolin, Montana on July 16, 1932 to Frank and Josephine Barta who came to America from Czechoslovakia. She enjoyed a close and loving relationship with her Mama and Daddy, her one brother and three sisters. She was the baby of the family and was dearly loved by all. She grew up in the Danvers area then moved to Lewistown at a young age to complete her education. She graduated from Fergus High in 1950. Early in her marriage she helped raise her young sister-in-law and her two young brothers-in-law. She loved them very much. Sylvia loved and respected her mother and father-in-law, Ethel and Harold.After marrying, Sylvia lived a varied and colorful life moving often. Some of the towns and cities in Montana where she lived include: Augusta, Helena, Havre, Browning, Whitefish, Columbia Falls and lastly Great Falls where she stayed for many years and loved life out south of the city. Her neighborhood was a small community by itself and she was well acquainted with everyone. Most summer afternoons found Sylvia outside hand watering her flower beds and lawn. It was a peaceful time for her and she could also keep track of the neighbors' comings and goings.Sylvia worked for the State of Montana as a Home Attendant for 26 years. She was remembered and loved by her clients for her kindness and caring.She would dress up for Halloween as a witch or just as a joke, in quaint old clothing and fooled everyone with her costumes. Sylvia could not pass up a garage sale. She was the ultimate collector of nostalgic old items, her home was a show place for them. Many of her antiques she used daily and many more she gave as gifts to family and friends. One of her biggest collections was of hundreds of beautiful unique angels given to her over the years.She did love to travel and visited Canada with Rudy and her family during one summer vacation and we all know it's best not to mention the whale watching that was done that year. Later Sylvia and her sister, Lillian spent time in Alaska visiting Lillian's children.The thing our mother was most known for was her unselfish hospitality and a love for visiting anyone, everyone, anytime. Visitors were always welcomed with a delicious meal, forthright chat and maybe a hand or two of poker with a cold beer.Sylvia is survived by her children, Richard Rapley of Flagstaff Arizona, Rudy Newman, Rolland Rapley and Char all of Great Falls; grandchildren Dave, DeAnna, Sean, Joseph, Reese, JoAnn, Nikki, Amy, Chad, Chris and Charlie; great-grandchildren Mishell, Madison, Desteni Jefferson, Brendalyn, Nicholas, Harrison, Bridger, Maisy, Caleb and Hayley; nieces Penny, Sharon, Judy, Laura Jean, Karen, Dynie, Lyndie, Vonnie, Terri, and Peggy; nephews Dale, John, Bud, Rick, Randy, and Kim; sisters-in-law Leona (Sissy), Dorothy, and Shelly; and brothers-in-law Bill, Bob and Lou.She was preceded in death by her brother, Hank; three sisters, Aggie, Marie and Lillian; youngest daughter, Brenda; daughter-in-law Debra; and son-in-law Bob.Recently she had been involved in the saving and restoration of the old church, Saint Wenceslaus, that her family had attended for many years in Danvers. Memorials are suggested for the upkeep of the old restored Church that Sylvia and her parents and family attended for so many years, Saint Wenceslaus, C/O Montana Preservation Alliance, 120 Reeders Alley, Helena, MT 59601.Granddaughter DeAnna remembers:I will always have the treasured memories to look back on as well as share with my own two daughters:The countless camping trips in the motorhome, on one occasion taking us to the Calgary Zoo, on this excursion in particular, my grandfather was still alive and had to be pushed around in a wheel chair. By no means was it because he was handicapped, but I saw an opportunity and took it, I pushed the wheel chair into the curb hard, and outta the wheel chair my grandfather jumped, I yelled, It's a miracle, he can walk! My grandmother with a stern look on her face looked as though she was going to scold me, then she turned away, and giggled. By the way, my grandfather walked without the wheel chair for the rest of the trip.One of the most memorable camping excursions by far was the time my grandmother made a game out of something foolish my grandfather was doing. He was sitting by the shore and tossing his beer cans in the lake as he drank them. My Grandmother offered up five bucks to the one who swam out and retrieved the most beer cans. Hmmm the joke was on all of us, all of us kids, along with my grandmother swam out and collected cans for a good amount of time. (Thank You Granpa for drinking dry so many beers) As we climbed out of the lake one by one, arms loaded with cans, we all began freaking out, you see the lake was full of leeches, and NOBODY likes leeches, funny part is, that was the day my grandmother did a dance we will never forget trying to get those leeches off.....When we were just little kids, I remember my grandmother telling us to watch the ground for treasures as we would walk in and out of the shopping centers, almost always we would be looking down at the ground and come upon a quarter, nickel, dime, or a dollar. It wasn't until years later that we realized that my grandmother was putting the treasures there for us to find..... But I do have to admit, it was a pretty handy lesson, as we have found money blowing around on countless occasions including a hundred dollar bill once :)I am thankful to my Grandmother and my Mother for many things:I learned how to bake and make candies, from years of helping them both bake goodie trays that they would sell every year around the holidays for extra money to buy gifts for everyone. Countless hours in the kitchen were spent around the holidays, and everyone got to sample the many goodies that were made. Everytime I bake with my girls, the memories come flooding in, and I only hope my daughters will remember the good times, and treasure them as I do.One thing my Grandmother was, is tried, and true,If she said she was going to be there, she was,If it needed to be done, that's what she would do,No questions asked, just because,Helping those in need,Near or far,No matter who they be,Or where in life they are,If you needed a helping hand,Or someone by your side to stand,She was ALWAYS there,and she ALWAYS cared,So now that you have gone to the Heavens above,We know you are not alone,And you will be forever surrounded by love.