Adele Barg

Adele Barg, age 90, a resident of Wheaton and formerly of Carol Stream, Oregon, and Glen Ellyn, all in Illinois, died peacefully on Monday, May 3, at the home of her youngest son, Tim. Adele was born on February 8, 1931, in Geneva, IL, the youngest daughter of Hugh and Irene (Rathbun) Bradshaw.
Raised in Glen Ellyn, IL, Adele attended Glenbard High School, now Glenbard West, and met fellow student William H. Barg at the local youth center where friends often gathered after school events. High school sweethearts Adele and Will continued dating through Will's college years, interrupted by his service in the Korean War. They married on October 11, 1952, and enjoyed 50 years together until Will's death in December of 2002.
Adele was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who put family at the center of her life, remembered by her loved ones for her compassion for others and continuous gratitude for her life experiences and opportunities. She was a skilled homemaker, dedicated volunteer, and lifelong learner. Adele delighted in playing -- and winning -- games, particularly bridge, cribbage, and gin rummy; family Yahtzee tournaments on her birthday became a treasured tradition over the years. Adele enjoyed a number of adventures with family and friends, including a dinosaur dig in Switzerland, whitewater rafting in Colorado, trips to China and the Holy Land, and many years of summer vacations in the Wisconsin Northwoods.
A nature lover, bird watching was one of Adele's passions. She kept an extensive "life list" of species she had observed. Her devotion to the natural world and interest in its preservation has been passed down to her children and grandchildren. Adele loved exploring history and learning about ideas like the mind-body connection. In her forties, she attended classes at the College of DuPage in the Science of Human Consciousness program. Adele was an avid reader in a wide variety of genres. Throughout her life, she was known for her open and accepting attitude toward all people and their beliefs, offering a listening ear and loving counsel to many.
Adele was an active participant in groups of faith, including the Bible Study Fellowship program. Anyone whose life she touched would recognize her all-encompassing Christian faith, which continued to grow and deepen throughout her life. Adele's prayer list was long, and she prayed daily and lovingly for family and friends by name.
Involved in a variety of programs as a volunteer and organizer, Adele always gave more than she received. Highlights include her years as a parent volunteer in the PTA, where Adele served as PTA President and as Chairperson of the annual Whittier school Fun Fair. After attending retreats at The Cenacle Retreat Center in Warrenville, with growing interest in their outreach, Adele became a lay member of The Cenacle board. As an octogenarian, she continued expanding her volunteer service at the Johnson Healthcare Center, and as a member of the annual Windsor Park Gala fundraiser committee.
Adele is survived by five children: Scot (Betsy Hasegawa) Barg of Bellingham, WA, Renee (Gregg) Barker of Wheaton, Steve (Susan) Barg of Hanover, IL, Michele Barg Tjaden of Woodstock, IL, and Tim (Judy) Barg of Wheaton; ten grandchildren, Evan (Olivia) Barker, Zoe (Joe) Jacobs, Aaron [deceased] and Hannah Barg, Andy (Bri) Barg, Bo (Kaitlin) Barg, and Tim, George, Eva and Mia Barg; and fivegreat-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, May 13, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. Relatives & friends are invited to view a livestream of the service through this link: Adele Barg's Memorial Service. A private burial will be held at Chapel Hill Gardens West in Oakbrook Terrace.
Adele donated to a large and diverse array of charitable organizations. In keeping with her spirit of generosity, in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to the charities of your choice.
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