Stephana Michaella Barr

1979 - 2024

Stephana Michaella Barr
Born: February 10, 1979 in Peoria, Illinois
Died: June 30, 2024 in Hennepin, Illinois
Stephana Michaella (Wells) Barr, 45, or Steph to her friends and family, passed Sunday, June 30 at her home in Hennepin, Ill. She had been fighting leukemia since she was diagnosed on the first day of school last August. Steph worked as a teacher's aide at Putnam County Primary School in Granville for 13 years where she had hoped to return to working with the children, whom she loved. And the students loved Mrs. Barr too.
Steph was born in Peoria, Ill. on February 10, 1979 to Darlene (Short) Hernan and Stephen Wells, at which time she became little sister to Jason Wells.
In the fourth grade Steph met her life-long friends Heather Hoffman and Kim Howard-Hall. Steph and her ride-or-die "bitches" had many adventures, and a few misadventures, throughout their decades-long friendship. The three shared an unbreakable bond that was cherished by each of them well past their graduation from Limestone High School in Bartonville, Ill. Steph also earned an associates degree in accounting from Illinois Central College in East Peoria, Ill.
Her best friends Kim and Heather stood by her side when she married Ryan Barr on October 19, 2002 in Peoria, Ill. The two had been introduced over a lunch-break meal by Steph's father and a couple of hunting buddies he and Ryan shared. That awkward meeting with three unlikely chaperones turned into a nearly 22-year marriage and two fiercely-loved children, Lena and Hunter Barr.
Steph always knew she wanted to be a mom. Lena and Hunter made her a very proud one in the too-few years she shared with them. To Steph, her kids and family were everything to her. She also loved sunflowers, the color purple and a good off-color joke. Her laugh, which occasionally produced a snort, was one of pure delight.
For both Ryan and Steph, their happy place was the family cabin at Mendota Hills Campground in Amboy, Ill. where they spent most of their recent summers with their six beloved wieners, two children and a golf cart.
After her cancer diagnosis, Steph said that if the Make-a-Wish Foundation fulfilled dreams for adults, hers would be to share a smoke with Snoop Dogg.
Steph was preceded in death by her father Stephen (Patricia) Wells, her nonie Gloria Wells and her papa William Wells, with whom she shared a birthday. All were from Peoria, Ill. She is survived by her husband, Ryan Barr of Hennepin, daughter Lena Barr (Logan Cox) of Toluca and Hunter Barr of Hennepin; her mother and step-father Darlene and Perry Hernan of East Peoria, brother Jason (Emily) Wells of Creve Coeur and step-brother Ehren Hernan of East Peoria, many loving family members, friends and her five dogs Jimmy, Juliet, Mary Jane, Jedi and Johnson. She said her dog Jack, the O.G. wiener of the crew who crossed the rainbow bridge in January and her much-loved six-toed rescue cat Emme would be waiting to greet her.
Per Steph's request there will be no services for fake tears to be shed by petty looky loos. A celebration of life will take place at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the family.
Dysart – Cofoid Funeral Chapel will be assisting the family with the arrangements.
Online condolences may be made to her family at www.dcfunerals.com