Obituary of Theresa Barry

Theresa Jordan Barry

September 13, 1928 – August 14, 2019

Theresa Jordan Barry, of Morris Plains, passed away peacefully in her home, on Wednesday, August 14, 2019, surrounded by her loving family.  Born September 13, 1928 in Kanturk, Co Cork, Ireland, Theresa is pre-deceased by her loving husband, John Barry, her parents, Daniel and Julia Jordan (nee Mullane); her siblings, Michael Jordan, Maria Cross, Sheila Donovan, Ethel Young, and Phyllis Joyce;  and her nephews, Terrance Barry and Damien O’Leary.

She is survived and will be missed beyond measure by her children, Martin Barry and his wife, Leslie; Daniel Barry and his wife, Amy; Maura Graham and her husband, Thomas; Eileen Barry Betlow and her husband, Edward; John Barry; Anne Barry Praino; Deirdre Garie and her husband, Alan; and her grandchildren, Steven, Michael and his fiancé, Lauren, David, Tara, Brian, Courtney, Treasa, Jordan, Rory, and Riley Anne; as well as, Damon and Isis.  She is also survived by her loving sister, Pauline O’Leary and her husband, Donal; her sisters-in-law, Maureen Johnson, Margaret Baumann, Kathleen Kovalsky, and Hilary Barry, her brothers-in-law, Michael Barry, Liam Barry, John Donovan, Maurice Joyce, and Tommy Cross; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Theresa married John, also from Kanturk, in 1951.  They emigrated to the USA in 1957, where they first lived in Flushing, Queens, and then moved to Irvington and later Newark, where she lived until 1986.  She then moved to Cedar Knolls and eventually to Morris Plains.  She worked for Handi-man Fasteners for over 20 years and was a proud card-carrying member of the Teamsters Union.  Later Theresa worked in the office at KDI Triangle in Cedar Knolls.  She retired in 1994 to look after her grandchildren. 

She belonged to the Irish-American Association of NW Jersey, was an avid walker, crossword-puzzler and Jeopardy watcher.  She loved to watch horse racing especially the Kentucky Derby.  However, her first love was celebrating her family and watching her grandkids participate in Irish Step Dancing, soccer, basketball, rugby, lacrosse, and softball. Theresa loved Irish music, Tom Jones and Dean Martin.  She had a wicked sense of humor and loved nothing more than to sit around talking and laughing with family over a cup of tea and her annual family beach vacations.

To celebrate Theresa’s life, there will be a viewing at Dangler Funeral Home, 600 Speedwell Avenue in Morris Plains, on Sunday, August 18, from 3PM to 8PM.  On Monday, at 10AM, there will be a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Virgil’s Church, 250 Speedwell Avenue, Morris Plains.  She will be interred at Holy Rood Cemetery in Morristown.