BARBARA VUCANOVICH Barbara F. Vucanovich, a former U.S. Representative, passed away Monday, June 10, 2013, after a brief illness. Born June 22, 1921, in Camp Dix, N.J., Barbara Vucanovich was the daughter of Major General Thomas Farrell and Ynez White Farrell. Barbara Vucanovich graduated from the Albany Academy for Girls and attended Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart in New York. In 1982, Barbara Vucanovich became the first person elected to Nevada's Second Congressional District and the first woman from Nevada to serve in the House of Representatives. She was elected to seven terms and retired in 1996, serving the second longest tenure of any Nevadan in the House. She was elected Republican Conference Secretary, one of the four leadership positions, in the 104th Congress, making her the first Nevadan to serve in a leadership position in House of Representatives. Barbara Vucanovich served on the Presidential Debate Commission, the Commission to Select White House Fellows and the Fund Board of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Justices. She was a trustee on the Board of Saint Mary's Health Network and the Board of Casa de Vida, and was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The University of Nevada, Reno awarded her an Honorary Doctorate of Humanities in 2004. The main post office in Reno was named the Barbara F. Vucanovich U.S. Post Office in her honor. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Thomas Jr., Peter and Richard Farrell; sister, Patricia Naleid; husbands, Ken Dillon Sr. and George Vucanovich; a son, Michael F. Dillon Sr., a grandson, Trevor P. Dillon; and a great-grandson, Thomas Daniel Golden. Barbara Vucanovich is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Patricia Dillon Cafferata and Dr. H. Treat Cafferata, both of Reno; son and daughter-in-law, Kenneth P. Dillon Jr. and Sandra Dillon, both of Reno; son and daughter-in-law, Tom Dillon and Catherine deTar Dillon, both of Statesville, N.C.; daughter and son-in-law, Susan Dillon Anderson and Grant "Butch" Anderson III, both of Reno; brother, Stephen Farrell of Reno; 13 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren. Rosary was held Thursday, June 13, at Our Lady of the Snows Church in Reno. Funeral Mass of Resurrection was held Friday, June 14, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Reno. Burial services were be private. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to Casa de Vida, 1290 Mill St., Reno, NV 89502 or the Nevada Women's History Project, 770 Smithridge Drive, #300, Reno, NV 89502. The family invites condolence messages in the "family guestbook" at the website www.
waltonsfuneralhomes.com Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Walton Funeral Home, Reno.
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Published by Las Vegas Review-Journal from Jun. 15 to Jun. 16, 2013.