Obituaries : Barbara 'Barb' K. Woodhouse

Barbara K. “Barb” Woodhouse, 68, Rockford, passed away Thursday, December 18, 2014, in her home. She was born November 22, 1946, in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Robert and Marguerite (Delaney) Jess. Barb was a National Merit Scholar and was the Salutatorian of her high school class, second only to her best friend, Michele Telford of Rock Rapids, Iowa. Barb was a talented musician as well, playing every woodwind instrument and the piano. She was a John Phillip Sousa Scholar Musician and often conducted the orchestra. In college at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, she was a brilliant student, attending the college with full academic scholarships and received her Bachelor of Science in 1969. She was a member of the Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. Her sorority was working on a homecoming float with the Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity when she met Gary Woodhouse. They married in 1969. They were married on Friday the 13th of June and celebrated every Friday the 13th, regardless of which month, for the last 46 years by going out to dinner. Settling in Rockford, Barb was a dental hygienist for 41 years working in the offices of Dr. Jack Weiss, Dr. Charles Nichols, and until her retirement, the office of Dr. Richard Usedom. Barb was an adored wife, a beloved mother to their son, Justin and their daughter, Carrie. She was a cherished grandmother to 7 grandchildren and a loved friend to many. Survived by her husband, Gary; her daughter Carrie Ahrens of St Louis, Missouri; her son, Dr. Justin (Dr. Allison) Woodhouse of Gates Mills, Ohio; her grandchildren, Jacob, Elizabeth, Luke, Isabella, and Sophia Woodhouse and Sarah and Blake Ahrens; her brother, Barry (Karen) Jess; her brother-in-law Dr. Alan (Janet) Woodhouse; her sister-in-law, Joanne (Dr. Ronald) Hanneman; many nieces and nephews and their children; her loving mother-in-law, Dorothy Woodhouse of Vinton, Iowa. Predeceased by her parents.

Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M., Monday, December 22, 2014, in Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Riverside Chapel, 3910 N. Rockton Av, Rockford, 61103. Private family burial in Vinton, Iowa. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society or the Smile Train at www.smiletrain.org/. Share online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.

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