After 15 years, Barbara Jeanne (Majewski) Richlich was finally reunited with the love of her life, Jerry, and found eternal peace with her God on March 9, 2023, at home, surrounded by her girls, as were her wishes. Barb joined many of her family and friends in Heaven after a short battle with cancer.
Barb was born June 29, 1938, in Grand Rapids, MI to Albert and Esther Majewski. She was the seventh of nine children and was close to her siblings her whole life. She was a 1960 graduate of Aquinas College and taught lower elementary grades in a local Catholic school. While a student, she worked at Meijer Thrifty Acres where she met Jerry Richlich, and the rest is history!
Jerry and Barb married on June 24, 1961, and began their family with the birth of their first “L” (Lisa) in 1963 followed quickly by the second and third L’s (Lynda and Lori). In 1968, they built a home and moved their family to Allegan where she and Jerry met Norm and Val Smith who were to become their best friends for decades. Barb was a homemaker, and all the neighborhood children would gather at the Richlich house to play and enjoy her cooking and baking. She was like a second mom to many throughout her life. In 1972, Barb and Jerry completed their family with the birth of their fourth “L” (Leslie).
After working at Hardings Market for many years, Barb went back to school to update her teaching certificate and returned to the classroom in the Allegan County Head Start Program. She also spent many years teaching Catholic education at Blessed Sacrament Church and introduced hundreds of young people to the Catholic faith of which she was so devoted. She touched the hearts and minds of many children and was often approached by adults thanking her for her kindness and love “back in the day” when they were her students.
Barb was an active member of Blessed Sacrament Church throughout her adult life. Many of her closest friendships were formed through her church activities. The “Merry Widows” traveled together and spent many a day attending plays and movies, rolling dice, and playing cards. These wonderful women helped fill the void left by Jerry’s absence and gave Barb fun things to look forward to.
Barb was proceeded in death by her parents, several siblings and her son-in-law, Amado Resendiz. She is survived by her “L’s” – Lisa (Craig Melland), Lynda (David Ferris), Lori (Alan Querback) and Leslie as well as nine grandchildren and a bunch of greats!
A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 15 at 11:00 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church, Allegan. Burial will be in Allegan’s Oakwood Cemetery. There will be no visitation, but family and friends are encouraged to stay for a luncheon after the funeral to share stories with Barb and Jerry’s Girls. Memorial donations can be made in Barb’s memory to Wings of Hope Hospice or Blessed Sacrament Church’s Scholarship Program.
“We wish we could have seen the reunion that took place between Mom and Dad. It must have been magical.” – Barb’s Girls