Barbara M. Kledzik

Barbara M. Kledzik
Virginia Beach - Barbara Grace May Avery Kledzik died Friday, March 23, 2012 in Virginia Beach after a long illness. She was born in Rochelle, Illinois on April 2, 1926, the fourth child of Ada Jane McConaughy and Phillip Willard May, Sr.
Ever one to challenge convention, Barbara ventured from a secure and loving community to embrace what life might bring. She struck out west to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder, becoming a social worker before marrying. She traveled the world, living in Tokyo, Japan and Zurich, Switzerland for many years before returning to live on the beautiful waterways of coastal Virginia. In her late 50s, she earned a second bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from Old Dominion University, fulfilling a lifelong passion for all things creative.
She sought no recognition for her service, raising four children and being a dedicated volunteer with her church, community, and the Tidewater Appalachian Trail Club, where she continued to hike and camp well into her seventies. She loved art, literature and nature. She appreciated the offbeat, the unusual; the words, "That's different!" were her highest compliment. She had a particular quality of compassion that recognized the value of things others missed, creating new uses and beauty from cast off things. She was ever sympathetic to the plight of the lonely traveler, stray animal, or any child. Her pleasure was to create; her attitude do-it-yourself.
She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Phillippa Jane May; Mary Turkington, and Phillip May, Jr. She is loved and missed by daughters Anne Avery of Montreal, Quebec; Lisa Kledzik (Chip Gagnon) of Ithaca, NY; and Ramona Sheridan (Chris), of Macon, GA; and son David Kledzik (Jeanne) of Virginia Beach, VA; as well as six grandchildren: Helene "Nellie" Gagnon, Lucas Gagnon, Olivia Williams, Reid Williams, Ian Williams, and Alexandra Kledzik, sister-in-law Jeanne May of Rochelle, IL, a large extended family, and a group of close-knit, enduring friends.
A memorial service will be held Wednesday, March 28 at 1 p.m. at the Church of the Epiphany, 1530 Lafayette Blvd in Norfolk, of which she was a member.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Alzheimer's Research or Hospice. You may offer condolences to the family at www.dignitymemorial.com