The love of my life

[Tom Barry]

I hope this is an appropriate place for this post. My wife of 50 years, Jackie Ruth Coffee Barry, died of complications of ALS after a five-year heroic battle that ended on Dec. 5, 2020. I was her sole caregiver until the last year of her struggle, when I got her hospice care at home. Because of this, she did not have to die alone in a hospital, as so many have done since COVID-19 arrived. She was surrounded by me, our son, and her sister, when she passed. She also was accompanied by Elvis Presley, her favorite singer, as we live-streamed the Elvis radio channel on her last morning. Because of the pandemic, and two months after her passing, the horrible Texas Deep Freeze for which our incompetent state government was unprepared, only now are things settling down enough for me to coherently pass along this news to my Cambridge in Colour friends. My granddaughter picked the attached photo of Jackie which we used in her obituary. I took it on Feb. 28, 2017, a year after her ALS diagnosis. At that time, she had lost her voice, but was otherwise unaffected. Bonnie thought the photo caught Jackie's good humor, the courage with which she faced every challenge, and her rigorous attention to her daily dress, whatever the circumstances. Tom Barry
Jackieobit by tombarry975, on Flickr

[Rita]

My condolences to you.

[Astro]

Tom, I am sorry for your trouble. (I'm half Irish, and this is a usual condolence amongst my Irish family).
The portrait of your wife is beautiful. Life is change they say, but sometimes I wish for less of it. My thoughts are with you as you set about reconstructing a new world.

[CatherineA]

I am very sorry Tom.

[mugge]

I am sorry to hear of your loss, Tom

[Manfred M]

I am very sorry to hear about this. These neurological illnesses are really tough for everyone involved. The woman that lived next door to my parents died of ALS too and it was tough on her and her whole family

[Tom Barry]

Thanks to all of you for your kind thoughts.

[xpatUSA]

Condolences from your sorta neighbor to the south ...

[pschlute]

Tom

Thank you sharing a wonderful portrait, and an equally wonderful eulogy to your wife.

So very sorry for your loss.

Peter

[wilgk]

My sincere condolences to you, my father in law passed away from this disease, it is cruel.
Sending you all my caring thoughts.

[wide2tele]

I'm very sorry to read Tom, you have my condolences and best wishes.
The portrait is a wonderful tribute to your wife.

[rpcrowe]

My deepest sympathy - I have experience losing a beloved spouse to a lingering illness. I'd like to pass on some advice that I was given at the time of my late wife's passing. Take care of yourself. At times like this one can be quite vulnerable to illness and depression...

[Dave Humphries]

Sorry for your loss Tom, my condolences.

Take care,
Dave

[YossarianXXI]

What a wonderful shot of your beloved. My deepest condolences, Tom.

[Tom Barry]

Again, thanks for all the kind thoughts and expressions of support. They really do help lift my spirits.