Barbara Gloria Auva'a

The love of a mother/grandmother transcends beyond time and space through the beauty and bravery that is Barbara Gloria Schneider Auva'a. At 2:18AM, the morning of April 7, 2024, Barbara was home surrounded by the ones she loved and cared for most as she took one last breath, spread her wings over them all and stepped into the next stage of her eternal light & life in a peaceful sleep.

Just as a mother would lay her children to sleep at the end of any given day, so did she as she stayed home the entire night before and hung out with her grandchildren & children listening to some of her favorite songs, sharing stories and reminiscing about the best, most happiest and memorable times that she always had a heavenly hand in. Saving her last breath until after her grandchildren began to sleep a little more comfortably in the safe and sound silence of her heart and home.

Barbara was born and blessed into this world February 18, 1958 in Midland, Michigan to another strong & surviving mother Ursula T Baars and birth father Helmut Schneider. Raised as a Cali girl at heart and for always, Barbara’s mom would introduce her to her first best friend and sister Debbie in 1959. We’re grateful to know Debbie was there to welcome our mom into Heaven with the hugest of hugs they’ve been waiting to have for so long, along with her 2nd father Tom. An honorable reunion so respectfully deserved.

Growing up together these sisters would come to swim with the dolphins of this world & surf the ocean blues with one another, experiencing this world from the beautiful lands of Hawaii to her mother's homeland of Germany. They would soon come to find a father figure in their mother's new lifetime love: Tom in the year of 1973. Later in life, Barb and her sister could be caught jammin and dancing to the good old frequencies of the late 70s and 80s in the streets of Redondo & Manhattan Beach. There, Barbara would successfully complete her high school education at Mira Costa High with the class of 1976. That same year our legend herself would witness the musical legends of the BeeGees Live with her sister Debbie at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. She loved and appreciated different sounds and energies and had a way of making the musicalities frequency just that much more higher for us all as she’d nod in approval to the beat of a song and say “that’s my jam!” Music has a whole other meaning for us with her dancing in the clouds of Heaven.

Barbara began her motherhood journey after birthing her first born son Nathaniel Austin Auva'a in the summer of 1985 and is reverently reunited with him as well as they continue to shine down on us. Barbara experienced her first heartbreak laying her son to rest and walking him into the light January of 1986. In the spring of that same year she would begin to heal her heart having her daughter Shannon Nicole Auva'a. In the following summer of 87 and fall of 88 Barbara would continue to heal her heart, leading & living a strong life through the strength she built from having and adding her sons: Corey Nathaniel Auva'a & Milo Nicholas Auva'a to her legacy.

Barbara Gloria Schneider Auva'a aka Barb, Babel, BAM or simply put Moms, always looked out for God's children regardless their walk of life. In 1989, she found herself expanding her horizons from the beaches of California to the mountains & valleys of Utah with her family Misi and Linda Auva'a, laying roots for many more of her seeds to grow. Barb had a way of connecting with a many of souls who were in need of light and/or love, and would share of hers so freely. Barbara helped raise a multitude of God's children in so many fashions. Having her hand in elevating so many members of extended family to closing out a daycare in West Valley City, down from her old American Drive Home in the 90’s & early 2000’s. If you know you know! And everyone was welcome to know, as Barbara herself made her mark in these streets of Utah and continued to put in work saving so many souls along the way.

Barbara became a grandmother in 2007 and is also survived by 4 of her sunshine-grandsons: Canaan & Sigi Kneubuhl (sons of Shannon), & Kendryc & Kayjay Auva'a (sons of Corey). She played a huge role in the upbringing of so many and had a special place in her heart for each and every one she crossed paths with. She had stories for every trinketed memory or piece of jewelry collected and could retell them to us for a lifetime. In her lifetime she would remain sharp, sharing her light and stories with so many. She even maintained connections with some of her Bed Bath & Beyond family after retiring early from the corporation in 2021. In the coming year of 2022 she would get to dance with her youngest son Milo as he married the love of his life and officially blessed her with a daughter in love Korina Mesi Auva'a. She cherished all her children & grandchildren; even the ones she took in and accepted into her heart and home. She shared special and anointed experiences with each and every one of them and became that aunty who was always another mother figure in their lives. So many of us were honored and lucky enough to have called her mom and share those times & experiences with her.

Diagnosed with Glioblastoma, stage 4 cancer, in November 2023; Moms would fight & beat odds even doctors were perplexed by. Her fight was a miracle to witness and she’s left that strength with us all through her children who she always hoped would continue to dance in this life; a blessing she is so happy to behold. She’d want us to eat but keep the hunger, to never lose our sense of wonder; she’d want love to never leave us empty handed and for us to never take our breaths for granted. She’d want us to dance! So we’ll continue to dance with her and for her as she shows herself to us thru the sunshine and sunflowers in this life.

2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight , I have finished the race , I have kept the faith.”

When we cross paths with a dolphin or lighthouse we’ll forever remember her lighting and guiding our lives in this life and in the next. We love you so much mom and on our honor we will carry on your name and legacy through the stories you’ve shared and created with us.