Helen Joyce Barclay

1921 - 2024

Helen Joyce Barclay

August 30, 1921 - December 2, 2024

Helen Joyce Barclay (Hedgie), 103, of Bloomington, IL, passed away peacefully on December 2, 2024 in her home with family by her side. Hedgie knew her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and was looking so forward to her eternal home.

Hedgie was born in Bloomington to Dean and Oleta (Freitag) Ewing at her Great-Grandma Freitag's home on August 30, 1921. She was the oldest of four children and grew up on the Ewing farm southwest of Stanford, IL, attending a one-room school (Brooks Grove) through 8th grade, then graduating from Stanford High School in 1939. After graduation, Hedgie worked at State Farm for 5 years and married her high school sweetheart, Harold E. Barclay, on January 20, 1945. After living in Bloomington for a year, they moved to the Barclay family farm east of Stanford, where they lived for 46 years, raising their family and being active members of Stanford Christian Church and their community. Later they joined First Christian Church in Bloomington, and after Harold passed in 1989, Hedgie lived on at the farm for three more years before moving to her condo in Bloomington where she resided another 32 years. She made so many good friends in her 'new' church and neighborhood, while staying very involved with her friends from Stanford.

Hedgie was always gardening, canning and freezing at the farm, attending to her many roses and busy being a farmer's wife. Cooking and baking were her great loves. Whether it was for a church potluck, her pinochle and bridge clubs, men working in the field, family get-togethers or just friends coming over for Sunday dinner after church, it was her joy to make everyone feel at home and prepare a delicious meal. She and Harold loved big band music so going to dances in Bloomington for the occasional night out was a highlight. In later years, Hedgie became a big fan of college basketball and actively watched as many games as she could - especially supporting the ISU Redbirds and the Illini.

Preceding her in death were her parents, sisters Bette Belle Thompson and Enid Hickman, her husband Harold and their oldest son, Harold E. Barclay, Jr. (Eddie). Hedgie is survived by her brother, Dr. Elmer E. Ewing (Marilyn) of Ithaca, NY, and children - Richard (Kathy) Barclay of Springfield, IL, and Susan (Randy) Stukenberg of Byron, IL. Also surviving are her grandchildren Brooke (Adam) Feld, Ben (Ali) Barclay, Bridget (Frank) Bresk, Jacob (Marcy) Stukenberg, and Katie (Colton) Walker. In addition, there are 10 great-grandchildren and an 11th expected in March, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. Hedgie dearly loved them all and was very involved in all their lives.

She lived a long and healthy life and was a great friend to many. Her greatest wish was to stay in her home until the end and thankfully, due to a wonderful group of caregivers, she was able to satisfy that wish. The family wishes to especially thank Elvia Miner and Joan Davis for their loving care of Hedgie over the years. She loved you both and the family is so grateful for your devotion to her.

Services will be held at First Christian Church, 401 W Jefferson Street, Bloomington, IL on Saturday, January 4th, 2025, with the visitation from 9 to 11 a.m. followed by the memorial service at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery Association.