Barbara Jean Hondras

Barbara Jean Hondras was born on October 25, 1939, in Clarksdale, Mississippi to Isaac King William Sr, and Bythella Timms-Williams. As a young child, she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior. She was also active in the church and loved singing in the church choir.

Barbara relocated to Illinois as a child with her parents in 1945 and continued her residency here within Illinois. She attended elementary school  in Chicago Heights and high school at Lucy Flower High School.

Barbara was known as “Big Ma” by all. She had an exquisite sense of fashion and was a great dancer. She loved her family and was fond of hosting family gatherings. Barbara was a phenomenal chef and often made Sunday dinner that we all looked forward to. She was the LIFE of the party and enjoyed her music. She loved going to the Casino and watching her basketball and baseball games, which she always said, “The games are RIGGED!” She was a loyal Bulls and Cubs fan and shared her love for the game to her family.

Barbara was a humble, soft spoken, and intelligent woman with a kind and loving heart. She could be both firm and sensitive at the same time. Barbara had the best penmanship and as a habit, she had a thing where she loved to write while talking on the phone. Pier has continued the same habit, and you can find notes wherever Pier has been.

Barbara spent 32 years working for the Marriott Inflight Service where she retired after 32 years of service.

Barbara departed this life on January 7, 2023. Preceding her in death were her parents, stepfather Lonnie Stalling Sr, siblings; Tressa Armstrong Lewis, Isaac K. Williams Jr., Yvonne Williams-Lofton, Lonnie Stalling Jr., and Lynette Stalling.

She leaves to cherish her children Pier (Perry Sr) Black, Frederica Hondras, Danielle McCurty, Frederick (Tiffany) Hondras Jr., Nicole (Londale) Hondras; her brothers Elester aka Billie (Hattie) Williams, Keith Stalling, Kenneth Stalling; Sisters, Alice Faye Drake, Vanessa (Delbert) Stalling Gurley and Annette Stalling, 18 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, 11 great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Visitation will be Friday, January 20th from Noon until 2:00 p.m. at Warren Funeral Home, 1475 N Cemetery Rd. (located on the northside of the intersection of Tri-State Parkway and Cemetery Rd.), Gurnee, IL  60031.  The Funeral service will follow the visitation at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, also at the funeral home. The interment is scheduled to be private. For further information please call 1-847-855-2760.