Margaret A. Barry, 94, passed peacefully away on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022, at Francis House, Syracuse.
Margaret was born Jan. 13, 1928, in Utica. She was the daughter of Andrew and Mildred (McCarthy) Wind of Victory Parkway, Whitesboro, N.Y. As a teen, she worked at the Wind’s Bakery on Main Street in Whitesboro, founded by her grandfather, Wybo Wind, an immigrant from the Netherlands.
She graduated from Whitesboro Central High School, Class of 1945. Margaret attended Syracuse University, majoring in child welfare, and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1949. At Syracuse, she pledged to Delta Delta Delta sorority. She treasured the fact that she was a “Tri-Delt” her entire life.
Margaret met Stanley “Bud” Barry at SU and they married in 1949. Together, they raised a family of six children in Lyndonville, N.Y., in Orleans County. Lyndonville became a joyous holiday destination for the now-adult children, their spouses and grandchildren for decades. As large as the family became, Margaret and Bud received everyone for a grand dinner and celebration multiple times each year. Margaret liked to reminisce about the Christmas when she prepared dinner for 32 family members.
She and Bud moved to Medina, N.Y., in 2004. After Bud died, Margaret moved to the Colonial Village Apartments in the town of Manlius in 2011. She had many great friends there and lived independently with great dignity for the rest of her life.
Margaret enjoyed volunteering, notably with Literacy Volunteers of Orleans County, where she tutored both adults and children. She also assisted at Medina Memorial Hospital and at St. Joseph’s Church, Lyndonville.
She is survived by her children, Richard Barry of Medina, N.Y.; Donna and Michael Smith of Fayetteville; Pat and Bill Durette of Belmont, MA; Steve Barry of Webster, N.Y.; Annie and Craig Kay of Alford, MA; Cathy and Matthew Clear of Williston, VT and by former AFS student and dear family friend, Gudrun Finnbjarnardottir of Reykjavik, Iceland.
Margaret is also survived by 14 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren who were great sources of personal pride to her. She is also survived by sister, Arlene McShane of Tennessee and by sister-in-law Dorothy “Dot” Wind of Connecticut.
Margaret is pre-deceased by Bud Barry, brother Andrew Wind and sister Lois Wind, by two daughters-in-law, Colleen Barry of Medina, N.Y., and Carolyn Barry of Webster, N.Y., and by granddaughter, Andrea Perry-Lonson, also of Medina. We hold them all dear to our hearts.
Family and friends are invited to Immaculate Conception Church on Tuesday, Aug. 9, at 9:30 a.m. for a calling hour. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at the church at 10:30 a.m.. Internment will be at Lynhaven Cemetery, Lyndonville at a later date.
The family would like to express its immense gratitude to the nurses, staff and volunteers at Francis House, 102 Michaels Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13208. They provided Margaret with great care and comfort in her last days. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to Francis House in Margaret’s memory.
