Barbara Marilyn Harris Blessing, 94, died on June 15th at Wesley Manor with her family at her side. Barbara was born in Lexington, Massachusetts, where she lived until meeting her husband, Rev. William Blessing, who brought her back to his home in Indiana. She served with him in his United Methodist churches in Cambridge, MA), Newtown, Monon, Rockville, West Lafayette, Michigan City, Munster, Speedway, Lafayette, Frankfort, Kokomo, and South Bend. She assisted with women’s groups, weddings, Sunday school, and in the countless ways pastors and their spouses serve their church families.
Barbara had a beautiful soprano voice and sang in the church choir, often contributing solos. After raising her three children, she worked at the American Cancer Society as an event coordinator, and later with the Clinton County fuel assistance office. She was a talented oil painter, an expert seamstress, and a mother who took pride in providing a comfortable, attractive, loving home for her family. A beautiful woman (she had offers of modeling contracts in her youth), she had a talent for creating beauty and order out of everything around her, whether with singing or playing the piano, art, decorating, crafts, sewing, or flowers.
She is predeceased by her loving husband of 62 years, Bill Blessing. She is survived by her three children and their families: daughter Donna Brennan and her husband Jim of Estero, FL, and their children Michael Brennan and his wife Lisa Brennan, and Laura Brennan and her fiancé Kevin Weng; son John Blessing and his wife Angie Blessing of West Lafayette, and their son Thomas and his wife Lauren Blessing; and daughter Linda Soukup and her husband Michael Soukup of Blue Hill Maine, and their children Evan Soukup and Jessica Soukup. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, two sisters, Marjorie Harris of Edgewater, FL, and Jean Barrett of Lexington, MA, and countless friends and church members.
Her generous and loving nature, her warmth and ability to care for those in need or pain, and her faithful annual renditions of “Happy Birthday” on the telephone will be sorely missed.
Visitation will be held in the chapel at Wesley Manor on Saturday, June 19th at 12:30pm to 1:30pm, followed by a service and celebration of life. Interment will be at Lizton K of P Cemetery in Lizton, Indiana. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Good Samaritan Fund at Wesley Manor. Online condolences may be directed to www.gendafuneralhome.com.