Barbara A. Krippel Astrom (nee Boban)

passed away Saturday, August 31, 2024 at  Lightways Hospice Home in Joliet.

A lifelong Joliet resident. To say that Mom loved Joliet would be an understatement! She had a lifetime of Joliet area friends and family, and all the relationships along the way. Growing up in "Ingalls Park," attending "JT" High School, working at "the Phone company" were a few of her fondest memories. But nothing compared to the wonderful memories of her family when she was growing up. She was blessed with wonderful parents, Milan and Gretchen Boban, and two loving brothers, Porky and Bob Boban. Her Mom and Dad and two brothers were very special people and she always reminded us how lucky she was to have the family that she did. She also had special Boban Aunts and Uncles (Aunt Marie/Uncle Auggie, Uncle George/Aunt Olga, Uncle Don/Aunt Lela, and Uncle Joe/Aunt Dorothy), having spent many fun times with them as well. So many great memories with her family and friends!

At Kline's Department Store, Mom met Richard J. Krippel Sr. In 1966 they were married in San Diego, California and then had three children (Karin, Rich, Kyle). After serving in the Marine Corps, Dad passed away in 1978 at age 33 after a long battle with Cancer. In 1979, Mom met Karl A. Astrom and they were married for 45 years until his passing on April 15, 2024. Mom worked for a short time at The Guardian Angel Home, but spent most of her life working in Banking at First Midwest Bank, Bank One, and Chase Bank and ending her banking career at First Community Bank of Joliet, retiring as SVP in 2013. She thoroughly loved what she did,  loved the people she worked with, and loved so many of her clients, that she had an endless

number of friends.

A giver at heart, Mom also volunteered herself at any chance she could. From the early days at St. Mary Magdalene, being a Room Mother, head of the Room Mothers, being the Chairperson of many events, being School Board President, Council of Catholic Women member, and also CCW Woman of the Year!

In the community, over the years, she volunteered her time in many different capacities. Mom was a Hospice volunteer, Special Events Coordinator for the City of Joliet, Crisis Line Board of Directors, and more! The City of Joliet has always been important to her, capturing the history, the positiveness, the events, the Holiday parades, and she always insisted on supporting local

businesses.

But most important of all were her family and friends. So many friends, but a few of the very dearest include Chris Ott, the late Kevin McGinnis, Deb Buske, Alison Cardona, and Cynthia Astrom. She loved the Krippel family as her own and considered them all her second family, staying very close to all of them over the years. Known affectionately as "Mom" "Mother" "Momsies" "Grandma Shoes" and "Grandma Barb," Mom LOVED the holidays, especially Christmas. Preparing for Christmas was nothing short of an adventure! She usually had her Christmas shopping done by October and the Christmas Coffee Cakes were complete and in the freezer by Halloween. Then the Christmas Cookies were baked and placed into the "Christmas Cookie Freezer" until it was time to serve them. Dozens and Dozens and Dozens of cookies every single year! And the Christmas decorations included many snowmen (her favorite), angels, a flag tree, a family tree, and a snowman tree. Every room needed a tree!!! Mom insisted on spoiling us every year with hand selected gifts that always included a chocolate sucker from Dan's candy attached to a gift. Every year there were personalized ornaments also. Mom loved all of the holidays and always found a way to spoil us. For Valentine's Day, a heart shaped box of candy. At Easter, it was the Easter Egg Hunt to include the special Gold, Silver, and Bronze eggs. Mom loved supporting local businesses…some of her favorites were Dan's Candy, Ace Drive In, Joe's Hot Dogs, Creamy Delight, La Dolce Vita, Ace Handyman Service, D'Arcy GMC, and Cemeno's to name a few. She also believed in homemade foods, especially at the holidays. Her meals were always a feast! In the 1980's and 1990's, Mom and Karl also owned and operated the award winning "Two Pair & a Spare" Rib business for many years. In Chicago, winning the Mike Royko Award for best ribs was a highlight of a lifetime. Being an extremely generous person, her gifts were endless. Her time, her gifts, her donations (many times anonymous), and most importantly, her love. She was always thinking of others and wanting to help others, always a giver. Mom was a beautiful person, inside and out and will be missed tremendously for her strength, being a warrior, and her love of people. Oh, and let's not forget her love for Las Vegas! Especially her annual trips to Vegas with her special friends. Another favorite was shopping on Michigan Avenue in Chicago.  Mom was a long time member of St. Mary Magdalene Church in Joliet and a current member of Holy Family Church in Shorewood. She was a beloved Daughter, Niece, Cousin, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Aunt, and Friend.

Barbara A. (Boban) Krippel Astrom is survived by her children Karin (Robert) Scheidt, Richard (Tiffany) Krippel, and Kyle (Linda Froelke) Krippel. Grandchildren Kylee (Bleon Salihu) Krippel, Kari (Kameron) McNicholas, Brandon Krippel, Bailey Krippel, Taryn (Darren) Hancock, Clayton (Zahra) Astrom, Dr. Courtney (Sarah) Koppenhaver-Astrom, and Zoey (Jordan Steacker) Astrom. Great Grandchildren Elle McNicholas, Jaxxon Hancock, and Sutton Hancock. Mom is also survived by her "Brother Dear" Bob (Rene) Boban, Uncle Joe Boban, the entire Boban family to include her dear Boban nieces, nephews, and cousins and the Krippel family to include Dad's siblings - the late Ray (Joyce) Krippel, Yvonne (the late Tony) Pavlich, the late Clarence (late Mary) Krippel, Sr. Lucille Krippel OSF, Maree (the late Bob) Kestel, Jerry Krippel, Dave (Linda) Krippel, and the late Ann (Charles) Hamilton and all of their families to include her many dear nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by her husband Richard J. Krippel Sr. (1978) and husband Karl A. Astrom (2024), dear parents Milan and Gretchen (Hammon) Boban, her brother Porky (Carol) Boban and her in-laws Raymond and Gertrude Krippel and Bror and Alice Astrom.

Thank you to the fabulous Medical Staff at Northwestern Medicine/Northwestern Memorial Hospital/Central Dupage Hospital including Dr. Laura Kulik, Sarah Anderson APRN, CNP, Dr. Shuo Ma, and their teams, adding 10+ years to Mom's life with amazing health care. Your heartfelt care and concern will always be remembered. You are so appreciated. Thank you to the now retired Dr. Michael "Mike" Waszak (Joliet) who was always there when we needed him. Mom could always count on you and we appreciate you. Thank you to Jeri Layfield, Mom's longtime (now retired) cleaning "assistant" who was always there when we needed her. Jeri, you were a blessing for many years. Appreciation is an understatement! Thank you Mary Cantu-Engleman, mom's longtime hairdresser. We will never forget how you always helped mom to look and feel her best! Thank you Shaun at Star Nails for always taking extra care of mom as well. Thank you to mom's beloved neighbors Steve, Laura, and Adam Klimek who often took care of so many things and alway being there for us in an emergency. Thank you to all that called Mom to check on her regularly, those who visited, those who brought meals, those who helped us in time of need, and those who performed a kind gesture.

Memorials in memory of Mom to Lightways Hospice, 250 Water Stone Circle, Joliet, IL 60431 or https://lightways.org

Mom's wishes were for private funeral services at Resurrection Cemetery in Romeoville.  However, she wanted all that knew her to remember the many good times you had together.  Mom was loved by many and will truly be missed.

Rest in Peace. We love you.

When I'm Gone

When I come to the end of my journey

And I travel my last weary mile,

Just forget if you can, that I ever frowned

And remember only my smile.

Forget unkind words I have spoken;

Remember some good I have done,

Forget that I ever had a heartache

And remember I've had loads of fun.

Forget that I have stumbled and blundered

And sometimes fell by the way.

Remember I have fought

Some hard battles and won,

Ere the close of the day.

Then forget to grieve for my going,

I would not have you sad for a day,

But in summer just gather some flowers

And remember the place where I lay.

And come in the evening

When the sun paints the sky in the west,

Stand for a few moments beside me

And remember only my best.

~Author unknown