Yvonne Barlow

Yvonne Barlow passed away peacefully on Sunday night, August 15, 2010 at Borgess Catholic Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was 91. A Mass of Christian burial will be held 10:00 A.M. Thursday, August 19, at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Msgr. Eugene Sears and Father William Jacobs, Jr. officiating, with burial following at Resurrection Cemetery. Friends may visit from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., with prayers at 7:00 P.M., Wednesday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, Michigan 49085. Memorials may be made to Twin Cities Area Catholic School Fund, and South West Michigan Symphony. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. She was born in New Hampton, Iowa on June 11, 1919 to Elizabeth Cashman and Walter B. McGrane. They preceded her in death along with her brother, W.J. “Jack” McGrane. She met the very handsome Edward D. Barlow of West Hartford, Connecticut on a train in Saint Louis during World War ll. Yvonne served in the American Red Cross while attending American University in Washington D.C. She then married Edward Barlow. They returned to his hometown in Michigan and made a home together that wished to include the whole community of Benton Harbor and Saint Joseph. Yvonne learned to read music at the piano from Catholic nuns at an early age. She shared the music she played for the rest of her life. This instilled a special appreciation for music in the grandchildren. Interpreting life through her Irish Catholic faith she remained devoted to her church. Yvonne attended The College of Saint Catherine, St. Paul, Minnesota. She was a golfer, a gardener, a wordsmith with a degree in English from the University of Northern Iowa. She learned to play tennis in her forties. She choreographed the lives of five children becoming an advocate for their special needs, sports and potentials. She gave time outside the home to several organizations often as a board member and trustee; Twin City Area Catholic School Fund, Civic Benefit, Monday Musical, Riverwood Mental Health, Berrien Hills Country Club, the YWCA, the American Association of University Women to name a few. She inspired a relentless spirit of individualism in each person she met. She leaves empty seats at the Southwestern Michigan Symphony, The Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan, The Lyric Opera, Chicago and daily Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Edward D. Barlow. Her children are Edward D. Barlow, Jr. and Linda of St. Joseph. Kay Barlow Segrave of St. Joseph, Mary Beth and Joe Marsala of Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, Shatar and Amy Dauer of St. Joseph, and Rick Barlow of St. Joseph. Yvonne was preceded in death by a beloved son-in-law, Jeff Segrave, of St. Joseph. Grandchildren include, Carrie Barlow of Louisville, KY, Tim Barlow of San Francisco, Emily Cheff and husband, Andrew Cheff, of St. Joseph, Alan Segrave of Saint Joseph, Maggie Segrave of Saint Joseph, Peter Marsala of Kalamazoo and Chloe Marsala of New York.