Barbara Marie Staples, 70, of Bemidji died Saturday, April 14, 2012 at the Sanford Bemidji Medical Center.

Memorial Services will be 9:00 am Thursday, April 19, 2012 at the St. Charles Catholic Church in Cass Lake, MN with Father Kuriakose Nediakala officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Cass Lake, MN under the direction of the Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji.

She was born on December 9, 1941, in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Leon and Helen (Kornacki) Gensiewski. She was raised and educated in Detroit, where she was a special part of her relatives lives. She worked at International Sausage. She married Raymond “Slivers” Staples on February 23, 1974, in Detroit, Michigan. Because of her love for her husband she moved from her family to the North Woods of Minnesota in 1980. Barb never lost touch with her family in Michigan and was taken in by Ray’s family. She worked in Walker for Next Innovations until she retired in 1999. Without having any ties in Bemidji and Cass Lake they were still able to make many quick friends with people, and have never let go of that friendship after all these years. Barbara was a member of St. Charles Catholic Church in Cass Lake, and St. Philip’s Catholic Church in Bemidji. One of the most enjoyable times Barb had was babsitting and watching children. She enjoyed having fun at the house with good meals, and time spent at their cabin in Cass Lake that was priceless.

She is survived by: Son, Ron (Deb Morrow) Staples of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Sisters, Shirley (John) Franko of Weidaman, Michigan, Geraldine (Arthur) Sitko of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan Brother, Leon Gensiewski of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, Nieces and Nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband Raymond “Slivers” Staples.

Honorary Casketbearers will be her sisters Shirley Franko and Geraldine Sitko.