Barbara J. Woodsmall

Barbara (Prior) Woodsmall, 63, of Rockford, IL passed away on Thursday, November 20, 2014 at Swedish American Hospital in Rockford, IL.
She was born on April 9, 1951 in Burlington, IA to the late Francis and Kathleen Prior. She graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1969. She then married the love of her life, Ronald Woodsmall, on July 14, 1972. She obtained her Medical Assistant Certificate from Southeastern Community College and later went on to receive her Master’s Degree at Judson College. She worked for the Mental Health Institute of Mt. Pleasant, for Dr. Belsare, Dr. Widmer, and Dr. Miller. She was a Human Resources Assistant and Credit Union Manager at Motorola. She finished her career as a Human Resources, Benefits Coordinator at Rock Valley College. Where after six years she made the decision to retire on November 14, 2014.
Barbara touched people’s lives in many different ways. She was a Brownie Leader, a part of the Big Brothers and Sisters Program and a Sunday School Teacher. She enjoyed arts and crafts and she especially loved making gifts for family, friends and those in need. She loved being a Mother and was a selfless Mother figure to many people in the community. She was strong, brave, kind and selfless throughout her battle with Cancer. She continued to give the gift of life as an Organ Donor.
Survivors include her husband, Ronald Woodsmall; Mother, Kathleen Prior; sons, Shawn (Misty Moon) Woodsmall, David (Tabatha) Woodsmall, Jonathon (Kelley) Woodsmall; daughter, Heather Woodsmall; brother, Mike (Verna) Prior; sisters, Margaret Speed, Teresa Prior-Curry (Bob), Kathleen Prior and Carol Wheeler (Jeff), and grandchildren, Kayla, Kaden, Peyton, Gavin, Sarah, Julie, and Ava Woodsmall. Predeceased by her father Francis Xavier Prior, and sisters’, Mary and Beth Prior.
Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Sunday November 23, 2014 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 S. Mulford Rd. Rockford, Illinois 61108. Visitation in Iowa will be on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at Thielen Funeral Home, 3940 Division St. Burlington, IA, at 8:00 am until 9:30am. Funeral Mass will be afterward at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church 520 W. Mt. Pleasant St., West Burlington, IA. with Reverend David G. Steinly officiating. Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Cemetery after Mass. Express online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the family.