Frances Theresa Barry

Frances T. Barry (born 8/7/1925 in Detroit, MI) died on June 24, 2023, surrounded by family and things she loved—Elizabethan history books, crossword puzzles, the NY Times, and Hershey’s chocolate kisses. She is now reunited with two of her children—John (2022) and Mary Rose (2019)—as well as her beloved siblings and parents. A former art and special education teacher for the Detroit Public Schools, Frances was raised during the Great Depression as the fifth of six children of Rose and Anthony Lehn—immigrants from the Austrian-Hungarian Empire and Germany, respectively. Her father, having died when she was 13, caused Frances and her sisters to seek jobs at factories during summer breaks from high school. She worked at the Detroit Desoto factory driving rivets into the wings of fighter planes destined for use by the US Air Force in WWII. Thereafter, Frances, having skipped a class level in school, received a full scholarship to Michigan State University where she obtained a degree in education. She later obtained two masters degrees in education from Wayne State University while raising five children and working as a teacher. Family was preeminent in her life and she often said “love is shown by the food you prepare for others.” She particularly enjoyed preparing Polish food with her sisters, daughters, and nieces where everyone sat together around a large table making pierogis in an assembly line for large family Christmas parties while sharing life’s joys, burdens, and concerns. Although the Great Depression and WWII continue to fade into history, Frances shared colorful details from these events. For example, during the Great Depression, she decided to become a teacher despite teachers not getting paid. Instead, Detroit teachers received IOUs, which, in her estimation, was better than others who lacked jobs. WWII also made a significant impression on her. Every block in her neighborhood had at least one Gold Star family—a soldier killed during service to the US. Frances also explained that everyone sacrificed for the “boys” fighting for us. While butter was provided to the “boys,” Detroiters used a two-component mixture—margarine that was white and a yellow dye—the combination of which was mixed until it looked like butter. Visiting the library was a life-long joy that began during elementary school where she frequently asked librarians to obtain additional books that she didn’t see on the library shelves. Even two weeks before her passing, she had borrowed 17 books from the library and electronically requested an obscure one-of-a-kind book from another library. She also often ordered books after reading the NY Times Book Review section or selected books based upon her favorite authors. Frances’ other favorite pastimes included art, museums, WWII movies, trying new recipes and solving crossword puzzles. She is survived by her children Edward, Caroline, David, daughter-in-law Susan (John), and grandchildren Jessica and Lauren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Frances was preceded in death by her parents Rose and Anthony Lehn, siblings Helen, Mary, Eleanor, little Mary, Franky and husband, John. A service will be held at Our Lady Queen of Angels in Detroit, the same Catholic Church where her parents were married and where she and her siblings were baptized and confirmed. In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to Multiple Sclerosis or Ovarian Cancer charities. In state Thursday, July 6, 9:30 AM until the 10 AM Funeral Mass at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, 4200 Martin Street, Detroit. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery, Detroit. To share a memory, please use the share a memory tab on this webpage.

Frances Theresa Barry

August 7, 1925 - June 24, 2023