Carrie Gwendolyn Vrbka was born on December 8, 1919 in Utica, Nebraska, the daughter of Harley C. and Carrie M. (Deremer) Snowden and passed away on February 9, 2017 in Seward, Nebraska at the age of 97 years, 2 months and 1 day. Gwen attended the Flowing Well Country School south of Utica and then followed her sisters to Lincoln and was a live in maid/housekeeper for the Woods family in their mansion near Cotner Boulevard. This is where she learned to cook/prepare just about any kind of food. While living in Lincoln she attended night school and received her G.E.D. She married Joseph A. Vrbka in Lincoln at St. Mary's Cathedral on September 2, 1946. Their marriage was blessed with four children and the family lived in and around Utica. Gwen cleaned houses for several elderly ladies in Utica, was a part-time custodian at the old Centennial School building and then became the housekeeping supervisor at the Utica Nursing Home for 16 years. Gwen was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church Utica for many years. She loved collecting recipes and then trying them. She enjoyed tending to her flowers and also gardening. She always kept busy with a sewing project and crocheting, usually something for the grandchildren. While living at Greene Place in Seward the last few years, she became the jigsaw puzzle expert.

Gwen was preceded in death by her husband Joseph A. Vrbka in 2001; three sisters: Bernice Hanson, Eileen Grisham and Leona Stockeland; one brother Harley D. Snowden.

Survivors include Gwen's children and spouses: Rodney and Barb Vrbka, Tecumseh, Shirley and Dave Smith, Lincoln, MO, Alan and Sherry Vrbka, York, Lisa and Dave Clabaugh, Beatrice; seven grandchildren and spouses: Kerri and Randy Miller, Tecumseh, Shannon Smith, Warwick, RI, Shawna and Shawn Simpson, Basehor, KS, Troy and Deborah Smith, Huntington Station, NY, Eric and Bethany Bean, Yutan, Andrew and Jennifer Vrbka, Geneva, Traci and Erik Nore, Lincoln; eleven great-grandchildren: Kesha Beethe, Tyler Simpson, Dustin Beethe, Chase Simpson, Reilly Vrbka, Jacquelyn Rose Bousequet-Smith, Wyatt Vrbka, Maura Vrbka, Capri Bean, Whitaker Bean, Whitney Nore; many nieces and nephews; two sisters-in-law: Regene Beggs, Dorchester, Aldeane Effinger, Lincoln and a host of friends. To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers and memories of life shared with Gwen.