Barbara Royalty

1936 - 2025

Barbara Louise Royalty, 89, died of natural causes on Oct. 18, 2025, at La Via Memory Care at La Posada Green Valley.
Barbara was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. A resident of Green Valley for more than 20 years, she loved Arizona, golf, travel, and entertaining friends.
She also loved her native Chicago. Born on Aug. 2, 1936, to Peter and Sophia Vilutis in the city's Bridgeport neighborhood, she graduated from Kelly High School. She later earned an associate's degree from Prairie State College.
She and her husband, Edward Covey, raised two daughters in Chicago Heights, Ill. After Edward's death, Barbara married David Royalty of Flossmoor, Ill. They lived in Flossmoor and Frankfort, Ill., then retired to Green Valley.
For many years, Barbara worked in the trucking industry. Later, she managed the customer service department at Federal Signal Corp. in University Park, Ill., retiring in 2002.
A longtime member of St. Kieran Church in Chicago Heights, she also attended Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Green Valley.
Barbara brought joy to everyone she came across. She had the brightest disposition that was infectious. She was a leader and a uniter who always enjoyed helping others. She brought everyone together to celebrate family, friendship and life itself. She was a world traveler seeing everything this world had to offer. She taught us all the importance of taking care of yourself, exercising daily and golfing multiple times a week. She will be greatly missed by everyone she left behind because of the profound impact she has made in all our lives.
Barbara was predeceased by her parents; two brothers, Peter and Edward; and her husbands. She is survived by her partner, David Unterborn of Green Valley; two daughters, Patricia Gingras of Mokena, Ill., and Sharon Covey of Crossville, Tenn.; two stepchildren, Douglas Royalty of New Haven, Conn., and Jody Andres of Lee's Summit, Mo.; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Burial will be at Assumption Cemetery in Glenwood, Ill. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.