The family of Frances Barry of Park Ridge, IL announces her passing, and invites all who knew her to remember her here.
What follows is a brief look at the life her family wishes to share.
A life is built quietly, day by day.
Frances Anne Barry passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family, on May 2nd, 2026. Beloved wife of a late Kevin Barry, Loving mother of Nora (Kevin) Cunningham, Maureen (Philip) Johnson and Kevin, Cherished grandmother of Lucy, Bridie, Theodore and Eleanore, Dear sister of James (Holly) Hayes, Maureen (Michael) Forde, and the late Michael Hayes. Fond Aunt of Eileen, Anne, Claire and Michael Forde, along with James, Emily, Michael, and John Hayes. Born and raised on the West and Northwest side of Chicago, she attended St. Genevieve Grammar School, Trinity High School in River Forest, and Rosary College. While in graduate school in Ireland at Trinity College Dublin, she met and married the love of her life, Kevin. They lived in Dublin for a couple of years before moving to Chicago to start their family. She became the first female floor manager of the prestigious first floor of Marshall Fields on State Street before becoming a Chicago Public School teacher. Together, she and Kevin created a wonderful homelife centered on their Catholic faith, Irish heritage, and education. As an incredibly talented seamstress, she spent many years designing and sewing Irish dancing costumes for her children and countless other dancers in the early days of Trinity Academy of Irish Dance. While teaching full time, she helped her husband manage their hardware store, Barry’s Hardware, in Lakeview. She proudly taught fourth grade at George B. Armstrong School in Rogers Park for the final twenty-five years of a nearly forty year career in CPS. So many wonderful friends and memories were made in her time there. For the last forty years, she loved living in Park Ridge and watching her children grow up and starting their own families. Her grandchildren called her “Grancie” and they knew that she would be there to pick them up after school and listen to their day over a cup of tea. She was happiest surrounded by family at the table, doing projects around the house, going out to lunch on a Saturday, or sitting on the porch in the summer with a book. Her incredible storytelling, wit, and humor will be missed by anyone who chatted with her, but most of all, she will be forever missed and cherished by her loving friends and family.Visitation will be held Sunday May 10 from 3-8pm. at Cooney Funeral Home, 625 Busse Highway, Park Ridge, IL. Funeral Mass, Monday May 11, 2026, 12:00pm at St. Paul of the Cross in Park Ridge. Interment at Town of Maine Cemetery.
