Gwendolene Isobel Barry

On the 3 February 2021 Gwen Barry passed away. She turned 90 years of age on the 15th January 2021 and although unwell on the day, she celebrated this milestone with family and friends on 16th January 2021 at The Pavillion in Box Hill. For many of those that attended it was to be the last time that they would see her. A day after the event Gwen was hospitalised. Despite the efforts of the medical staff and Gwen's own determination this fight was one that Gwen would stuggle to win. Once it became clear that the there was nothing further that could be done medically to treat her condition (beyond the provision of palliative care) Gwen decided to leave hospital and return to the home she had lived in for 61 years. Two days after arriving home her condition worsened significantly and she continued to deteriorate over the next 48 hours. After a brief struggle to stay with us she passed away peacefully in the early hours of Wednesday 3rd February 2021.

Gwendolene Isobel Barry was a remarkable women. She was 'Mum' to my self, my three sisters and three brother in laws and many of our friends whom she unofficially adopted over the years. She was 'Nanna' or 'Nan' to her five Grandchildren, their partners and many of their friends. She was 'Aunty Gwen' to her nieces, nephews, great neices and nephews, in both Adelaide and Melbourne, as well as the children of her many friends, of her neighbours, and her old colleagues. To her dear friend Maggie in Scotland she was of course 'wee Gwen' and to her only godson Tom she was 'Gwennie'. To her sister, mother in law (who she loved dearly and always called Mum), her sister and brother in laws, her extended family and her many many friends and acquaintences, both old and new, she was simply 'Gwen'. What made her remarkable was her unique ability to make everyone she met feel special and she was universally loved in return. Everyone that knew her has felt her loss with deep sadness.

This website is for all those that knew and loved her. It continues the celebration of her life and what it was about her that made her the unique person that she was.