Wilma Meta Prifti, age 83, of Kirkwood, Mo., passed away on January 9, 2025. After a courageous battle with cancer, Wilma has gone home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Wilma was born on February 13, 1941, to Anne and William Leithauser in St. Louis, Mo. In 1963, Wilma met Louis Prifti, and they married in 1965 and raised two children, Mark and Paul. She was a loving mother, devoted wife, and faithful servant of the Lord. She was a beacon of light to all and loved by many.
Throughout her years, she developed and ran the student exchange program at Webster University, expanding to Germany, Mexico, Japan, Ghana. Wilma was an active member of St. Mark’s ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) for over 50 years where she served on the Church Council and various committees. She was an enthusiastic leader and member of both St. Mark’s Women of the ELCA organization and found joy in organizing and leading gatherings for groups of Lutheran women in Eastern Missouri.
Wilma was predeceased by her parents Anne Leithauser, William Leithauser, her sister Hilda Finley, and her son Mark Prifti. She is survived by her husband Louis Prifti, her son Paul Prifti (Arielle), Beth Prifti (daughter-in-law), Grandchildren; Rebekah, Mark Junior, Nicholas, Alexander, Laira, Lauren, Victoria, Mary-Kate, and Mclaine, and numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and friends from all over the world.
Visitation Services will be held at Kutis Funeral Home, Affton Chapel, 10151 Gravois, St. Louis, MO 63123 on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, from 4pm-7pm, and Funeral Services will be held at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 6337 Clayton, Rd, Clayton, MO 63117 on Thursday, January 16, 10am with burial to follow at Sunset Memorial Cemetery, 10180 Gravois Rd.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
My heart goes out to the Prifti family. I was blessed to meet this beautiful lady. She was an amazing grandmother (Oma) who showered them with love, shared many stories of her life with a big caring heart! I will miss you Oma….my heart is heavy with sadness. You are a beautiful Angel and will always be close.
Love memories of Wilma.
She was so lovely and friendly when I met her 1995. I went from Germany to St. Louis for my exchange and had a wonderful time.
Thinking of Wilma and
you, her loved family
Susanne, the “black-forest-girl”
What a beautiful soul! I was privileged to meet and know Wilma for many years professionally, our passion for global peace through interactions and education and above all, lifelong friendships, bringing us together many times. Wilma was one of the kindest, brightest lights. Her love soars and surrounds us all. My condolences to her family and friends. She touched so many lives with her grace, and love, and care.
So sorry to hear this. We loved Wilma at County Tire & Auto. Prayers to the Prifti family.
I was deeply saddened to hear of Wilma’s passing. She was an extraordinary individual who made a lasting impact on all of us. Her constant smile and positive energy brightened every room she entered, and her advice to “be flexible” has stayed with me as a guiding principle in life.
Wilma was not only a remarkable leader but also a compassionate mentor who encouraged us to embrace challenges with grace and resilience. I am forever grateful for the lessons she imparted during my time in the exchange program and for the warmth and kindness she extended to everyone around her.
I was saddened to learn of Wilma’s passing as I have had the pleasure of knowing her since 1987 when we became part of the student exchange. The students loved her exuberance and joy running the program; the parties and trip to Lake of the Ozarks. She was quite an asset to the program and the host families enjoyed their roles, it was a great experience for our family. God bless her, she will be missed.
Wilma enabled a lot of us students to see the world with different eyes. It changed for me and certainly many others their path in a positive way.
Bless her and her family
Michael from Germany
Thank you Wilma and Mr. Lou for your warm hospitality when i spent some time with you in Stl in 2006 on the IBIE student exchange program. I recall fond memories driving in your Wilma’s serbring convertible listing to Abba “dancing queen” and maroon 5’s Album.
Thank you again for inviting me to be part of your family dinner celebrating Mr. Lou’s 80th Birthday in 2017.
I will always remember that mantra “Be flexible” & “am flexible”.
Wilma is a lively person full of Joy and Happiness.
Thank you Wilma for giving me a chance to have ever met you. I know your are right now in the bosom of the Lord.
We love you Wilma and God be with you till we meet again.
Mr. Louis Prifty, Thank you and my God be your strength. My condolence to you and your family.
Stay blessed
Love,
David Asare-Ansah from Ghana.
Wilma looked after my father as a young student from Germany in the USA and showed him a new world.
I was also able to get to know this world in 2006. Wilma, Lou and Lou’s Dad gave me a home for a few weeks. My first trip to the USA – forever linked with wonderful memories. Meeting new people and new friends, weekends at the lake, lots of sandwiches, american food, nightly rides in a topless Car through St. Louis, with great music and great people.
Wilma – you are now another star in the sky. Thank you for memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life. My condolence to all of your family.
Love, Leonie Lagrange from Germany
Be flexible. This tune is engraved in our heart. Wilma ! You have inspired myself and my family -my loving wife Raphaela, our children, Marcel and Philipp!
We are all with you on this final trip today. We will stay in touch for life ! H.-Martin & Family in Warendorf, Germany, Europe !
We are so sorry to hear of Wilma’s passing. I have fond memories of talking with Wilma when she and Lou would come to visit my grandma Helen. What a wonderful person she was. Sincere condolences to Lou and the Prifti family from the Omar family in Columbia. You are in our hearts and prayers.
Lou & Family. Please accept my deepest sympathy on Wilma’s passing.
I always admired her dedication to the Student Exchange program.
My health prohibited me from attending services, but know you are in my prayers
Dear Prifti Family,
I (David) met Wilma in late 2008, and went on the program in summer 2009. I stayed with the Wilma and Lou for 9 weeks, while my planned host family was preparing for me; she went beyond her official job duties.
During that time, I learned how a Catholic, a Greek Orthodox, and 2 Lutherans could pray and have meals together in unity (which I see as relevant, given that the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity starts tomorrow). I also learned the household lifestyle of a traditional, American family.
I didn’t understand it at the time, but Wilma encouraged me to practice my English day in, day out, even with my Spanish-speaking friends from Mexico. In hindsight, I was being prepared to one day live in the USA (which I now do).
While still being professional, she somehow managed to welcome me as a family friend or extended family relative. She took me downtown on a Memorial Day to understand how to use the public transit in St. Louis. She always made sure I had fun activities planned for the weekend, and made sure my plans made sense (since sometimes, college students make plans that don’t make sense). She introduced me to her neighbors and church friends. Me not being much of an extrovert, she taught me how to introduce myself to others in America, a skill which I’ve found very useful in my life in the states.
Over the years, we kept our friendship, through emails, Facebook messages, texts, and visits. Yes, I have visited St. Louis every 4 years since my initial visit, a tradition I coined “my Missouri leap year” (2025 being one of those). One time, Wilma and Lou stayed with me in Seattle, after a roadtrip to “nearby California”. She wasn’t afraid that we had different backgrounds; just knowing that I had gone through her program was enough to trust me.
She also even taught me some of her tricks as a working parent: how to save time when drying my laundry so I didn’t have to iron out my clothes.
And how to forget how often she said “OK”, a very kind, mellow way of talking about something.
Looking back, I can only see how she was inspired by the Holy Spirit in the way she related to others (and to Jesus, of course).
Loosing Wilma is very rough, since she’s truly irreplaceable, but I know that she’s now where she was meant to be: resting in peace with the Lord.
As she said “keep the faith” during her last days, I’m reminded of Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 4:7:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
P.S. The one “regret” I have is that I was never able to introduce her to a significant other. She would’ve definitely been on my wedding guest list.
With love,
The Valenzuela Family (from Monterrey, Mexico)
I was saddened to hear about Wilma’s passing. What an amazing person. Thank you Wilma for all the passion and love you brought to the exchange program.
As I connect the dots back to life and career opportunities and where I am today, I usually track them back to a call I got from Wilma back in 2006, a spot had opened up for the internship exchange program, and I was extended an invite. I am deeply grateful for that moment and what followed.
Thanks Wilma for all the care and hospitality. I have very fond memories of the people I met and the things I experienced during the summer of 2006 in St. Louis.
My condolences to the Prifti Family.
Love,
Jorge (Monterrey)
The first time I met Wilma was in 1983 as an exchange student. And then I was allowed to live at Prifti’s for a month.
It was a great time. We always had a lot of fun and I learned a lot for my life. And whenever Wilma and Lou were in Germany, we met.
I still remember a poem that we students wrote in the summer of 1983:
Our time in St. Louis is now through,
it was so nice to stay with you.
We enjoyed here every minute,
unfortunately, the time has reaches its limit.
The weather was hot,
but bored we were not.
Of our families, we always felt a part,
and always they will be in our heart.
Our days were full of plans,
so homesickness had no demands.
Our adventures here shall ever sustain,
that FLEXIBLE, we shoul always remain.
Wilma you always will be in my heart.