Jerelynn Barry 1944-2021

Jere Barry was born Jerelynn Yochim on September 7th, 1944 in Erie Pennsylvania.  She was raised by a Catholic family in a caring Catholic community.  She was the first of four children and as a teenager, the family moved to Buffalo, New York, where she graduated high school and then went on to college in Chicago. At this time, her family moved to San Francisco and she soon followed. 

 
In San Francisco, she became active in the peace and civil rights movement and worked at an import store known as The Phoenix on Haight Street and lived in a community with friends. With the help of the owner, she was able to run her own store called Nirvana in North Beach.  During this time in her mid 20’s she took a freighter to Europe and traveled on her own. She spent time living in Morocco and then back packed through Europe until she got a job in London, at a beautiful bed and breakfast. When she was not working, she wrote and read poems.

She later moved to New York City and lived on the Lower East side. She began working in advertising and then went on to work as the Secretary of the Institute of International Studies at Columbia University.

In 1972, she married her soulmate Ernie Barry in San Francisco. Then in 1974 she had her son Andrew and her daughter Arianna in 1979. Both the true joy and love of her heart and life. In 1989, the family moved from San Francisco to Sebastopol. As they grew, she grew into deeper spiritual roots. She attended Saint Rose Catholic Church, and then she found her second home at The Center For Spiritual Living.  The thread of her ongoing journey was now with kindred spirits.  This was a wonderful gift in her life.

 

Jere is remembered with love and gratitude at the Center. She served in the Grief and Loss Support Ministry and as a volunteer in other areas. Her enthusiasm for all our classes and meditations was inspiring to all who shared this time with her.  Jere's bright smile and warm heart always brought a healing presence wherever she went. 

Jere peacefully passed away at home with her loving family by her side, on April 18th, 2021. She always maintained a devotion to the Blessed Mother Mary and has been laid to rest in The Garden of Mary at Pleasant Hills Memorial Park in Sebastopol.