Obituary of Barbara J. McBride

None Barbara Jane McBride Barbara, 75, formerly of Chatham, Illinois, died at home Saturday, August 6, 2011 in Lacey, Washington. Mrs. McBride was born August 27, 1935, near Earlville, Illinois. The daughter of Peter and Vera Campbell. One of five children, she grew up in the Great Depression at the family farm and graduated from Earlville High School. After graduation, she worked at Doane Agricultural Services in Aurora, where she met Ivan McBride, a young widower with a handsome young boy, Steve. They married on September 23, 1961 in Earlville. They later had two children, Jim and Beth Ann. While raising her family in Chatham, she worked as a legal secretary for the Paul F. Wanless Law Firm in Springfield for more than a decade, a challenging job that she enjoyed. She later worked for American Family Insurance for several years before retiring in the early 1990’s. After they retired, the couple traveled extensively throughout the country, visiting friends and family in the Midwest the Northwest, Texas and Florida. They later moved to Lacey to be near their daughter, Beth and other family members living near Olympia. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ivan; her parents, a brother, Pete and her sister Margaret. Survivors include her daughter, Beth of Olympia; two sons, Steven McBride of Austin, Texas and Jim McBride of Amarillo, Texas; two sisters Mary Murphy of Pontiac, Illinois and Veronica Ferris of Oswego, Illinois, four grandchildren, Nicholas Pendowski, Ben Pendowski, Sean McBride and Stefanie McBride; numerous nieces, nephews and many friends. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial National Audubon Society. Mom was a devoted parent, loving wife and partner to Dad, a fun-loving confidante. She was kind, warm and gentle but firm when she needed to be. She believed in hard work and impressed upon each of us that life was never easy, but emphasized the importance of perseverance and sticking it out when times got tough. These traits sprang from a strong Midwestern Catholic upbringing and values passed on by her mother, Vera, and father, Pete. They provided the moral compass that helps each of us guide our lives today. Mom also enjoyed the fun things in life and understood the therapy that a good sense of humor and hearty laughter can bring. She took delight in playing cards, dominoes and other games with her grandchildren and friends. She loved animals and reveled in the wonders of God’s creatures. Mom especially enjoyed feeding the birds, studying their habits and recognizing the many different species that graced her feeders. The pesky squirrels in the neighborhood can now take a breather. Mom also never met a stranger and relished her many friendships. Her warmth and laughter always seemed to shine through and still do today. One of the things we are most grateful for is the tightly knit circle of neighbors, the strong, caring women who supported her, filling the void after Dad’s passing. She fought with courage and ended in grace. We love and miss you, Mom, but you and Dad have left us with the love, laughter and memories of two lifetimes. Please be sure to sign the guest book below.