Barbara Ann Reilly

Barbara Ann Reilly passed away after a brief illness on May 4, 2025 just a little over a month after her 92nd birthday.

Born Barbara Ann Smith on March 26, 1933, she was the oldest of three children born to Joseph and Marion Smith in Albany, New York. She spent her childhood in Albany. She attended Cathedral Academy high school and the College of Saint Rose where she graduated in 1955.

While she was in college, Barbara was set up on a date with Jack Reilly who was one year ahead of her in school. They were married just three weeks after Barbara graduated from college, and she embarked upon her lifelong journey with Jack, his career with IBM, and her life as a mother. She and Jack had eight children in the next ten years. They were a truly united couple, and enjoyed a long, happy marriage. They were devoted to each other.

Barbara dedicated herself to the very heavy demands of raising eight children while her husband traveled frequently for his work. She was calm, measured, and patient. Dinner was served at 6 pm every week night. She enacted many systems to manage her big household; the family love to reminisce about those times whenever they gather. Her support of Jack’s career also included many cross country moves which she orchestrated. Barbara said of all the places they lived, she was fondest of Atlanta, where the Reilly family lived for almost ten years in the 1970s.

Barbara was gifted with high intelligence and loads of common sense. Other defining qualities of hers were her humility, unpretentiousness, and her Catholic faith. She was straightforward, yet never overbearing. If you wanted to know what Barbara thought you would sit down and engage with her directly. People often did this because she was so wise and well informed.

In her later years, she loved her home in Dorset, Vermont. Her routine included the daily NYT puzzles, PBS News Hour, and reading. She had a community of friends built around her activities — swimming with The Mermaids at the Equinox Spa, playing with a few bridge groups, reading with her book club, and lunching on Tuesdays with her lifelong friend, Irene Kirby. She was treasured by her children and grandchildren and she looked forward to the frequent visits from her extensive family.

Barbara is survived by her children: John (and Lise) of Denver, CO; Amy of Pleasantville, NY (wife of Joseph who passed away in 2020); Jeff (and Barbara) of Marietta, GA; James (and Cindy) of Danby, VT; Sheila Kelly (and Bob) of Great Falls, MT; Katie (and Hoyt Taylor) of Chapel Hill, NC; Theresa Lundahl (and Gary) of Webster, NY; and Philip (and Tamara Prevost) of Seattle, WA. She is also survived by 22 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Jack Reilly, who died in November of 2022. She was also predeceased by her son, Joseph Reilly, her sister, Mary Trono, and her brother, Paul Smith.

Funeral services for Barbara will take place on July 5, 2025 at 10 am at Christ Our Saviour Church located at 398 Bonnet Street, Manchester Center, Vermont 05255 with a reception to follow at The Victorian Inn 245 N Main Street Wallingford, Vermont. If friends desire, contributions in memory of Barbara Reilly may be made to the Covenant House through Mahar and Son Funeral Home.