Ruth Ann Barry passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on April 26th, 2023. She was 84 years old. Born to Marcus V. and Blanch E. Stott on November 6, 1938, in Sycamore, Illinois. She grew up on the Stott Family farm in Genoa, IL, where her youth was spent working fields, wrangling barn cats, and raising Shetland ponies with her 7 siblings.

She attended Genoa High School, where she met fellow student James Barry. Both were 14 years old. They married two years later on October 9, 1954. They were the youngest couple at that time to be wed in Dekalb County. Shortly after, they purchased the one-room schoolhouse next door to James' childhood home, where she raised her family and remained her entire life.

Beginning in the early 1960s she began attending night classes at Kishwaukee Community College. Despite occasional interruptions to have babies and work factory jobs, she remained steadfast, and eventually graduated with an Associates Degree in 1988, with her children proudly in attendance at the ceremony.

She retired after long, dual careers at Dekalb County Special Education, and Crosswinds Community Church. Her faith was a central part of her life. She dedicated herself to countless youth and adult outreach programs. She greeted all, family and strangers alike, with a warm smile and a maternal hug. She was lovingly called "Mama Ruth" by an incalculable number of people whose lives she touched.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her parents-in-law Martha and Earl Barry; her son Steven Barry; siblings Grace, Jim, Alfred, Zoe, Marx and Paul; and grandchildren Steven Paul Barry-Alsup and David Barry.

She is survived by her husband of 68 years, James Barry; her children, Danny Barry of Rockford, IL; Marcus (Elizabeth) Barry of Minneapolis, MN; and Victoria (Steve) Guthrie of Galena, IL; her grandchildren, Crystal (Andrew) Didio of Sycamore, IL; Candace (Joshua) Monge of Poplar Grove, IL; Joshua Barry of Rockford, IL; Snow Barry of Clyde, Ohio; Jensen Barry of Rockford, IL; Renee Barry of Rockford, IL; Jasmine Barry of Rockford, IL; Grace Barry of Rockford, IL; August (Emma Quinn) Battles of Los Lunas, NM; Ford Barry of Minneapolis, MN; Magdalena Barry of Minneapolis, MN; 12 great-grandchildren; one sibling, Lois Symonds of Belvidere, IL; and many, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, May 3, 2023,  from 6:00-8:00 PM at Crosswinds Community Church, 13100 Cherry Road, Genoa, IL.

Her funeral service and celebration of life will be on Thursday, May 4, 2023,  at 11:00 AM at the church with Reverend Gary Roca officiating. Burial will be private at the Genoa Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please make donations (in her son Steven Barry's name) to Winning Wheels Rehabilitation Center in Prophetstown, IL (www.winningwheels.com)

To sign the online guest book, go to www.butalafuneralhomes.com Arrangements were completed by the Slater-Butala Funeral Home of Genoa, IL