Helen Barry completed her life's journey on October 16, 2017, at the age of 85, in Orange City, Florida. Although her last 7 years were faced with the challenges of Alzheimer's, it is only a small part of her life story that was filled with love, faith, family, and friends. Helen grew up in Rhode Island. After high school she met her husband, John, at a local dance. Theirs was a love story that flourished for 63 years including 7 children and 14 grandchildren covering many states.

Helen and John relocated to Central Florida from Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1986, where she worked for 10 years before retiring from Florida Institute of Technology as the payroll manager. They resided first in Melbourne, then Rockledge, and lastly they called John Knox Village in Orange City home. Helen developed friends wherever she lived: neighbors, co-workers, fellow parishioners, and fellow volunteers.

Helen was a loving and supportive mother to her children. She was always ready to help with homework, wrap the newspapers for the paper route, coordinate the schedules, drive to the multiple activities, and cheer them on from the stands. She took an active role in their many school and athletic interests by volunteering numerous hours. As her children grew up, Helen continued to be a wonderful listener, advocate, role model, and grandmother.

Helen's interest in giving back continued in Florida with her being actively involved and volunteering for many activities at church and with the Knights of Columbus Auxiliary. She enjoyed ballroom dancing with John, whether at church functions, local gathering places, or onboard a cruise ship. Taking morning walks with John was the start of each day. Helen also valued the time spent with friends playing bridge and bunco and all the Red Hat Society outings.

Helen's family and friends remember her ever present smile, devotion to her Catholic faith, her ability to set a beautiful table, her command of correct grammar and spelling, and her beautifully wrapped presents. Helen loved the color blue, spotting red cardinals, and simple times spent with family and friends. Helen was a very gracious, generous, and kind woman. She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.

Helen is survived by her husband John; children Patty (Mike Melcher), Mike (Nancy), Jack (Kathy Malone), Tom (Lynley), Kathy Bryden (Rob), and Colleen Sherman (Steve); grandchildren Matthew, Marybeth, Tom, Kristen (Mike), Riley, MacCulley, Kyle, Taylor, Sammy, Garrett, Alexandra, Jacquelyn, Olivia, and Bennett; and brothers Ray and Bob. Helen was preceded in death by her infant daughter Mary and brothers Victor and Ted.

A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, November 4 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady Of The Lakes Catholic Church in Deltona, Florida with Helen's family welcoming guests at 10:30 a.m. An earlier funeral Mass was held in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Cremation has taken place. Interment will take place at a future date.

For those wishing to honor Helen, her family is requesting that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to one of the following two organizations.

USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute
12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC70
Tampa, FL 33612-4742
https://usffdn.usf.edu/ua-giving/ and enter 250148 in the search box

Florida Hospital HospiceCare at Fish Memorial
770 W. Grenada Blvd.
Ormond Beach, FL 32174-3304
https://www.floridahospital.com/flagler/our-location/foundation/give/hospicecare-donation-form