Briana Lea Winkelbauer, age 45, of Colorado Springs, Colorado passed away November 19, 2020 in the loving presence of her daughter, Brian, her mother, and stepfather.
Briana was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado on May 20, 1975 to Janice Moschetti and Mike Winkelbauer. She was married for 10 years to Thomas Chavez before his passing in 2003. She then met Brian Notvest and spent 15 very happy years with him.
Briana was a very strong woman who always seemed to not have the best luck. Riddled with medical issues starting at 16 years old, she fought to always be positive and not let them hold her back. She was a woman who lived life by her own rules and gave her heart willingly. She worked in mental health fields and studied to be a medical transcriptionist. She graduated from Pikes Peak Institute in 1995. Through these tough times and the passing of her husband Thomas, she always had her mother Janice. Janice was always right beside Briana helping her and her daughter Kayla.
Briana loved family above all and spending time, doing anything, with them brightened her whole day. She also loved listening to music, cooking, road trips, and watching movies. Her cooking was always phenomenal, and she treated it as a true labor of love. People enjoying her food warmed her heart. She loved her cat Precious, whom she would call the Fuzzy Monster. She was a big believer in helping others and would put everyone before herself. Feisty, loving, and compassionate she will be dearly missed by her family and friends who all have been touched deeply by knowing and loving her.
Briana is survived by her mother, Janice; stepfather, Randy; daughter, Kayla; son-in-law, Taylor; and grandson, Nikolai.
As her daughter I would like to truly thank those who were at my mother’s side in the end and loved her. My grandmother and I have been caring for my mom since she fell ill. If it were not for my grandmother, my mother would not of had as full of a life as she did. The amount of love she had for my mom is indescribable. Also, a thank you to her significant other, Brian Notvest, who loved her these past 15 years even when she was getting so sick. His character is shown in that he loved my mother, cared for her, and grieves her. All my mother’s doctors that she has seen the longest, such as Dr. Piedad and others tried very hard and I believe kept her alive when normally one would not survive. She was cherished by us all and while we greatly miss her, we find comfort in knowing her pain isn’t getting greater.
You are free now my Briana, you can fly. ~ Janice and Randy
I will love and miss you forever. ~ Brian
We love you mom and I hope your daddy was there waiting for you. ~ Kayla, Taylor, and Nikolai