Barbara Hougas

BARBARA ANN HOUGAS

Age 68 of Morris, passed away Saturday morning October 8, 2005 at the Grundy County Home after a long courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease.

Born April 16, 1937 in LaGrange, Illinois, Barbara was a daughter of the late John J. and Mary (Reiland) Diederich. She was raised and educated in Morris and graduated with the Morris Community High School graduating class of 1955. On August 04, 1956 Barb married James Hougas in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Morris and together they lived in Aurora, Illinois and Riceville, Iowa until moving back to Morris in 1970. Barbara wrote a weekly column named "Bits from Barb" in the Riceville Recorder, while she resided in Iowa. After moving to Morris she worked at National Tea Store prior to gaining employment in the Rectory at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, where she was a parishioner. Barbara was a precinct judge in Grundy County for many years and fulfilled her life long dream of visiting the Vatican in 1997. She enjoyed making visits to the nursing homes and loved her children and grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband of 49 years Jim; Six Children: Jim, Jr. (Barb) Hougas of Minot AFB, North Dakota, John (Kelly) Hougas of Morris, Mary (Keith) Pokarney of Dwight, Barb (Jason) Semlar of Morris, Tom (Carol) Hougas of Morris and Cathy (Bryan) Jones of Peru. (17) Grandchildren; Jim Hougas III, Katie Hougas, Beth Hougas, Bobby Hougas, Brant Hougas, Seth Hougas, Heath Hougas, Krissy (Mike) Mondelli, Kim Pokarney, Kate Pokarney, Eric Strait, Diane Strait, Jessica Strait, Dan Hougas, Miranda Hougas, Matthew Hougas and Nicholas Jones. Two brothers: John (Pat) Diederich of Morris and Joe Diederich of Wisconsin and three sisters: Margaret (John) McDunn of Iowa, Joan (Don) Lowe of Florida and Mary Jo (Dave) Deming of Tennessee, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Barb was preceded in death by her parents and one son Joseph in 1982.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday October 11, 2005 between the hours of 4:00PM and 8:00PM at Reeves Funeral Home, 408 East Washington Street (one block East of Illinois Route 47) in Morris.

Funeral services will follow on Wednesday October 12th at 10:00AM in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Morris with a Mass of Christian Burial being celebrated with Rev. Richard Smith officiating.

Burial will be in Mount Carmel Cemetery.

Acting Pallbearers will be: Jim Hougas III, Brant Hougas, Eric Strait, Dan Hougas, Nic Jones and Mike Mondelli. Barb's other Grandchildren will be honorary pallbearers.

Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in Barb's memory to: Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Building Fund, 516 East Jackson Street, Morris, Illinois 60450 or Joliet Area Community Hospice, 250 Water Stone Circle, Joliet, Illinois 60431.