Barbara R. Willey
June 26th, 1927 - February 5th, 2023
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Barbara's Obituary
Barbara Rose Willey passed away peacefully in St. Joseph, MI on February 5th at the age of 95. Born on June 26, 1927, she was the eldest daughter of Bernhard and Eda Pistorius of Chicago, IL. She attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, and graduated in 1945 from Immaculate Conception Catholic High School, after her family relocated to Elmhurst, IL.
Barbara attended the College of St. Teresa in Winona, MN and later the American Academy of Art in Chicago, where she met the love of her life, Foster Willey. They married in 1948 and had eleven children. When Foster died in 2005, they had been married for 57 years. Foster Willey was a celebrated regional painter and sculptor who worked for 29 years as a Senior Graphics Specialist at Whirlpool Corporation.
Barbara and Foster Willey moved to St. Joseph, MI from Elmhurst, IL in 1955. Barbara had spent summers as a child in Lakeside, MI; she had a life-long passion for the beauty of Lake Michigan and its beaches. She passed along this love of the natural world and its conservation to her children.
Barbara’s community involvement revolved around the local arts scene. She was a founding and legacy member of the Berrien Artist Guild, and served on the Board of Directors at the St. Joseph Art Association. At the St. Joseph Art Center, Barbara served as head of the exhibition committee and worked as assistant to the Director. Barbara was on the planning committee during the design of the original Krasl Art Center building, and held several positions there including Educator, Educational Assistant, and consummate volunteer.
In the 1990s, Barbara was a founding member of The Box Factory for the Arts, Secretary, and enthusiastic volunteer. In 2011, an arts library was established there in her name – the Barbara Willey Library. She encouraged her children and friends to read stories, myths, and poetry. She instilled in her children and grandchildren a deep commitment and appreciation of music and visual art as a means of self-expression. Barbara believed in the healing power of art and its ability to contribute to the betterment of society. This is an important part of Barbara Willey’s legacy. Her friends, children and grandchildren will deeply miss having her active in their lives.
Barbara is predeceased by her husband, Foster Willey, sons-in-laws Peter Guilford and Charles Peterson, her brother Bernard Henry “Hank” Pistorius and her beloved sister Virginia Moloney. She is survived by her eleven children: Matthew (Karen), Margaret (Richard Joanisse), Ann (Bruce Mason), Foster Jr. (Valerie), Andrew (Renee), Richard (Arleen Lawson), Rosemary (Charles Wattles), Robert (Nancy), Mary, Guy (Richard Costa) and Serena. She is also survived by nineteen grandchildren, fifteen great- grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
A public memorial will be held on Saturday, March 25th at the Box Factory for the Arts, 1101 Broad St., St. Joseph, MI from 5:00-7:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Box Factory for the Arts, boxfactoryforthearts.com and Fernwood Botanical Garden, fernwoodbotanical.org. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, 269-556-9450.
Barbara attended the College of St. Teresa in Winona, MN and later the American Academy of Art in Chicago, where she met the love of her life, Foster Willey. They married in 1948 and had eleven children. When Foster died in 2005, they had been married for 57 years. Foster Willey was a celebrated regional painter and sculptor who worked for 29 years as a Senior Graphics Specialist at Whirlpool Corporation.
Barbara and Foster Willey moved to St. Joseph, MI from Elmhurst, IL in 1955. Barbara had spent summers as a child in Lakeside, MI; she had a life-long passion for the beauty of Lake Michigan and its beaches. She passed along this love of the natural world and its conservation to her children.
Barbara’s community involvement revolved around the local arts scene. She was a founding and legacy member of the Berrien Artist Guild, and served on the Board of Directors at the St. Joseph Art Association. At the St. Joseph Art Center, Barbara served as head of the exhibition committee and worked as assistant to the Director. Barbara was on the planning committee during the design of the original Krasl Art Center building, and held several positions there including Educator, Educational Assistant, and consummate volunteer.
In the 1990s, Barbara was a founding member of The Box Factory for the Arts, Secretary, and enthusiastic volunteer. In 2011, an arts library was established there in her name – the Barbara Willey Library. She encouraged her children and friends to read stories, myths, and poetry. She instilled in her children and grandchildren a deep commitment and appreciation of music and visual art as a means of self-expression. Barbara believed in the healing power of art and its ability to contribute to the betterment of society. This is an important part of Barbara Willey’s legacy. Her friends, children and grandchildren will deeply miss having her active in their lives.
Barbara is predeceased by her husband, Foster Willey, sons-in-laws Peter Guilford and Charles Peterson, her brother Bernard Henry “Hank” Pistorius and her beloved sister Virginia Moloney. She is survived by her eleven children: Matthew (Karen), Margaret (Richard Joanisse), Ann (Bruce Mason), Foster Jr. (Valerie), Andrew (Renee), Richard (Arleen Lawson), Rosemary (Charles Wattles), Robert (Nancy), Mary, Guy (Richard Costa) and Serena. She is also survived by nineteen grandchildren, fifteen great- grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
A public memorial will be held on Saturday, March 25th at the Box Factory for the Arts, 1101 Broad St., St. Joseph, MI from 5:00-7:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Box Factory for the Arts, boxfactoryforthearts.com and Fernwood Botanical Garden, fernwoodbotanical.org. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, 269-556-9450.
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