Isabel M. Barry

Isabel M. Barry Isabel M. Barry, 98, a resident of Holly Court Terrace, Oak Park, died Monday, Oct. 15, 2007, at Oak Park Rush Hospital after a long and vigorous life. She succumbed to pneumonia. Widow of the late Howard J. Barry, a 38-year veteran of the Chicago Tribune sports and editorial department, Isabel was an early childhood primary teacher. Born in Chicago, she was the daughter of the late Isabel and James Dean; and the sister of the late James. Isabel was a graduate of Pestalozzi Froebel Teachers College (now National Louis University) and Chicago Teachers College. In the early 1930s, Isabel owned her own preschool in the Kenwood and South Shore communities of Chicago. In 1933, she married Howard. Following his retirement in 1972 from the Chicago Tribune sports department, where he covered Big Ten football, turf racing, golf and boxing, Howard was a freelance writer for the Oak Leaves. He died in 1977. In the 1960s, Isabel returned to education as a kindergarten teacher at St. Bernardine School, Forest Park and served as an instructor in Loyola University Chicago's Head Start program. Isabel was an Oak Park resident for 50 years. She served as president of the Fenwick High School Mothers' Club in 1956. Earlier in her life she was an active participant in the St. Catherine of Siena Altar and Rosary Society, West End Catholic Women's Club, Theresians and St. Edmund's Women's Club. She was a charter member of the Oak Park French Club and a member of the Friends Book Club. Isabel's hobby was buying and selling antiques and she had a great passion for moving, according to her son, Richard. For the past eight years, Isabel was an active resident of Holly Court Terrace where she participated in daily exercise classes and the senior residence's many cultural activities. She enjoyed keeping up with the active lives of her large family, two sons, Richard of Chicago and Lauren of Seattle, and daughter Barbara of Palatine. Barbara is the retired assistant director of student services for District #15, Palatine. Isabel had one grandson; nine granddaughters; and 20 great-grandchildren. A wake will be held Friday, Oct. 19, from 3 to 9 p.m. at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home, 203 S. Marion Street, Oak Park. A Mass will be celebrated Saturday, October 20 at 10 a.m. at St. Edmund's Church, 188 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park with interment to follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Chicago. In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Edmund School 208 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302. For information, 708-383-3191.