Bibiana “Bibi” Tristani, age 84
Cold Spring
December 2, 1932 – November 24, 2017
Mass of Christian Burial will be 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 29, at St. John’s Abbey Church in Collegeville, MN for Bibiana “Bibi” (Schirber) Tristani, aged 84, from Cold Spring, MN. She passed away peacefully on November 24, 2017 in the arms of her loving husband and surrounded by her family.
Relatives and friends may call from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 28, at the Wenner Funeral Home in Cold Spring. Parish Prayers will be at 4:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the St. John’s Abbey Church. Inurnment will be in the Abbey Cemetery.
Bibi was born on December 2, 1932 in Eureka, SD. She was the second of five children, and grew up in Mobridge, SD where she was a surprise contestant in the local rodeo. She attended the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, MN where she met her future husband and the love of her life, Felix E. Tristani, from Humacao, Puerto Rico. Bibi and Felix were married on July 26, 1954. Over the span of the next 10 years, she had 7 children who were born in Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Humacao, Puerto Rico; Landstuhl, Germany; and Santurce, Puerto Rico. After devoting her life to raising her children, Bibi started working again, as an LPN, always serving the needs of others. Bibi and Felix relocated from Menomonee Falls, WI to Cold Spring, MN in 1995, where they started a new life in retirement, with a winter home in Tucson, AZ. These years were blessed with grandchildren, weddings, great-grandchildren and family gatherings. She started painting, to her enjoyment, and that of others.
Bibi was an avid supporter of peace and social justice and was instrumental in founding social justice groups at their local parishes, Good Shepherd and St. Boniface, and devoted to education, advocacy and empowerment in Central America. Bibi’s legacy is a reminder to serve those who are less fortunate. Bibi inherited a love for travel and adventure from her parents, Leo and Adeline, and traveled the world over with her husband Felix.
Bibi was an amazing role model and a true inspiration to her children and grandchildren, who will carry on her legacy of service to others. Bibi is survived by her husband, Felix E. Tristani; her siblings Jim (Cathy) Schirber, Ginny Miller, and Mattie (Bob) Sieler; her children Miguel (Cathi) Tristani-Kendra, Anita (David) Kordonowy, Felix (Lynn) Tristani, Marguerite (Jack) Watson, Martin (Payam) Tristani-Firouzi, Mark (Ann) Tristani, Mary (Jose) Castillo. Bibi’s legacy lives on in her 19 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren in-waiting.
She is preceded in death by her sister; Mary Jo Marshall.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Catholic Charities of St. Cloud (Hispanic Ministries).