Barbara A. Cavanagh

March 21st, 1950- September 20th, 2023
Barbara Ann Cavanagh (Tortorello), also known as: Wifey, Mom, Grandma, Babs, Mombo, Twig, Barbie, Agnes, Old Bag, We Care Supporter and most importantly the Sometimes Benevolent Dictatoress of the Cavanagh Household. "The World According to Barb '' is one that is indescribable and nothing short of a magical adventure we are all grateful to have been a part of; and a world that will never be the same again.
Born March 21st 1950 to Kay and Tony Tortorello in Evanston, IL Barb grew up with three loving siblings (Tom, Terry, and Bob) along with a neighborhood of families and friends which she adored. Barb was known as the number one guard in the Tort house and her creativity began to blossom in the Park Ridge neighborhoods when she ran her own little neighborhood paper and exposed scandals with her friends. The business was quickly shut down but her journalistic, creative PASSION grew deeper.
Barb will always describe every chapter of her life as HAPPY. From her contented childhood Barb went on to attend Marquette University; and with her best friend owned a pet alligator. Not sure if this is true or one of Barb's many larger than life stories, but we can see it. Oo- Rah Rah!
After college Barb met the love of her life Jim (yet she didn't know it right out of the gate) who she stood up a couple of times. Yet Jim, as he has proven through 49 years of marriage, waited around for Barb and went along on her adventure. Jim would spend a lot of time waiting around for Barb for years to come. Always the last to leave a party. Jim quickly became known as the "Reproductive Man" which some believe was because of his career at Xerox and others believe it was due to the 7 children (Jim, Courtney, Brendan, Brittany, Brett, Connor and Kiernan) Barb and he created. The pair supported each other through every up and down and welcomed in every spouse (Nicole, Donal, Sarah, Darren, Jackie, Whitney and Meghan) and grandchild (Ella, James, Graeme, Marhin, Griffin, Daniel, Keegan, Charlie, Erin, Madison, Cooper, Cullen, Grace, Tucker, Mackenzie, Paddy, Reagan and Maeve) as if they were their own.
The Journalist and her Reproductive Man together created a life that was deeply rooted in the values of "Faith, Hope and Love" and proved to their family and friends that "Love Never Dies". If you were fortunate enough to know Barb, it is a fact that she touched your life and probably that of 100 more that you know. She had a way of turning every little moment, event, conversation, into a SPECTACLE you could never in your wildest dreams imagine. The beautifully hand-drawn funny Christmas cards we all anxiously await every year, the beef tenderloin and garlic mashed potatoes, political conversations, mommilies, phone conversations, shopping trips, holidays, birthday extravaganzas, room parties, golf picnic lunches, the list goes on and on- SPECTACLE- PASSION- MAGIC- LOVE- FAITH- HOPE- Barb was all of this and so much more.
If you were in trouble in the Cavanagh house, or maybe you were a friend that did something that for a moment disappointed Barb, there is no doubt there is a "Mommilie '' on the bathroom door about you. Mommilies- or words of edict- from the "Sometimes Benevelont Dictatoress of the Household '' are little lessons learned in times of wrongdoings that are ingrained into our brains forever. A few of Barb's "Pearls of Wisdom'' to take along with you: "Always tell the truth, there is less to Remember", "Always have something in your lunch bag worth trading", "Appreciate the differences, that's what keeps life interesting", "Talk less about yourself and ask more about others" and Finally- LIVE YOUR LIFE WITHOUT REGRET FOR IT MAY BE YOUR LAST!
In remembrance of Barb Cavanagh, we ask that any charitable donations be made to: Misericordia in honor of Griffin Donoghue and Abbey Loescher or Lurie's in honor of Charlie Cavanagh: https://events.luriechildrens.org/community-fundraising/charlies-corner
Visitation and Mass in honor of Barb will be held Wednesday, September 27th, 9:15 a.m. at St. Scholastica Parish, 7800 Janes Avenue, Woodridge, Illinois 60517. The funeral mass will follow right after the memorial visitation.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to McCauley-Sullivan Funeral Home & Crematorium.