Barbara Kardas Obituary

Kardas, Dr. Barbara Jean

Dr. Barbara Jean Kardas, died at age 92, at Accentcare Hospice in Naperville, Illinois.

She was born in New York City on March 7, 1931, to her parents, Helen and Robert Cotil. She was the loving sister to Joan Cotil (Jim) Mooney, and wife to Julian Kardas, all who preceded her in death. She was a dear friend to many, tremendous mother to Janine (Ryan) Asmus, and a loving grandmother to William (22) and Andrew (17), She was a marvelous "Aunt Barbara" to Jim Mooney, Robert Mooney, John (Evelyn)Mooney, Billy (Jean) Mooney, Joanne Mooney (Michael) King, and Barbara Mooney (Don) Mettler.

She was a trailblazing force, fierce, fearless, and incredibly strong. There was nothing Barbara couldn't do. Her life was one full of vigor and passion. She did not die with any unfulfilled potential. She did it her way, and it was the best way possible.

She was a strong believer in education and worked in academia in many capacities her entire career. She was educated at State University of New York, Oswego (BS), Hunter College (MS), and Northwestern University (Ph.D.) She taught in grammar schools, high schools, and colleges in New York and Illinois. She was given the honor of being the Distinguished Alumnus of SUNY Oswego in 1975, recognized as a member of Who's Who of American Women, and retired in 1990 as Dean Emeritus of Education at Chicago State University; she was the first female Dean in the State of Illinois. And with that, she changed many lives throughout her career. She enjoyed her family, her many friends, travel, fine dining and fine cooking, and Scrabble. Her greatest joy was her family, and she loved her daughter, Janine, intensely. As she would say, she loved her to a "purple passion."

Please join us at her memorial service on June 9, at 10:30 am, at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 203 S. Kensington Avenue, La Grange, Illinois to celebrate this beautiful lady and her beautiful life. Lunch will immediately follow at Jen's Guesthouse, 8989 Archer Avenue, Willow Springs, IL. Flowers? She ABSOLUTELY loved them! Please feel free to send them to the church and they will be on display during her memorial service and enjoyed by the parish as well. Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Naperville was entrusted with arrangements. For information please call 630/355-0213 or visit www.friedrich-jones.com

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