Barbara Ann (Courtois) Peterman, 92, of Elkhart, passed into the presence of Jesus on February 1, 2025, at Greenleaf Health Campus.

She was born July 29, 1932, in Kalamazoo, MI, to Eugene and Mary (Bannigan) Courtois. She grew up in the Kalamazoo area where she went to Catholic schools and enjoyed playing with her large extended family. She graduated from St. Augustine High School with a strong interest in Psychology and Business. She obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1955, majoring in Personnel Administration and minoring in Psychology and Economics.

On May 28, 1955, Barbara married Donald Louis Peterman at St. Augustine Catholic Church and later moved to the Elkhart area where they raised five children. Barbara was actively involved as a Girl Scout Leader, Treasurer for the P.T.A., and a school librarian. Barbara and Donald attended St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church for many years where they raised their children to follow in the Catholic faith. It was quite a sight to see the family of 7 taking up almost the entire pew at church every week! She was a lifetime member of the St. Thomas Altar & Rosary Society, where she has made many treasured friendships. Barbara also taught exercise classes at the YW/YMCA which she loved through the age of 70 years young. After Donald passed away in 1996, she joined the Catholic Solitaires group where she would help organize the social activities.

She is proceeded in death by her parents, and her husband Donald, who died April 19, 1996.

She is survived by her brother, Donald Courtois, and her sister, Jeanne (Larry) Lawrence; children Mary Denise (Hobart "Don") Blough of Goshen, Susan Diane (James) Bumgardner of Elkhart, Karen Griffin Sumner of Fitzgerald, Georgia, James Louis (Nancy) Peterman of Omaha, Nebraska and Christine Ann (Michael) Fluke of Olathe, Kansas; 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

The family would like to send a heartfelt thank you to Greenleaf Health Campus, Senior1Care, and the Center for Hospice Care for the excellent care provided to her and the family.

Friends may call from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St. Elkhart. The evening will conclude with a Rosary being prayed at 7:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, with 1 hour visitation prior at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1405 N. Main St. Elkhart, Reverend Logan Parrish will officiate. A luncheon will follow immediately after the service. The burial will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Vicksburg Cemetery, Vicksburg, Michigan.

Memorials may be made to Catholic Charities, 1817 Miami St., South Bend, IN  46613 or Church Community Services, P.O. Box 2346, Elkhart, IN  46515.

Condolences may be shared online at billingsfuneralhome.com.