A resident of Prior Lake, MN, Barbara Ann Houle, age 80, passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning, February 3, 2016, while recovering at St. Gertrude’s Health and Rehabilitation Center in Shakopee, MN.

A Memorial Mass presided by Father Tom Walker will be held on Saturday, March 5, at 11 am, with a time of gathering starting at 9:30 am, at St. Michael Catholic Church 16311 Duluth Avenue SE, Prior Lake, MN. Barbara Ann was born April 6, 1935 in St. Paul, MN. She grew up in Forest Lake, MN, where she was the only child to mother and stepfather: Yvonne and Daniel Ryan. Barbara treasured the time spent being around her grandparents, Dr. A.J. and Claire Poirier. She enjoyed listening and watching her mother sing opera and play the piano. Yvonne’s love of music was soon passed down to Barbara, which eventually passed down to her children and grandchildren.

Barbara attended grade school at Holy Angels Catholic School and graduated from Forest Lake High School in 1953. After completing high school, she earned a teaching degree from St. Cloud State. She took a job with the Roseville School District as a first grade teacher, later being promoted to second grade. While in grade school, Barbara met a classmate by the name of Richard Houle. It wasn’t until after he returned from the service that they became close friends. One afternoon while stopped and waiting for a train to pass, Barbara leaned over and kissed Richard, from there their relationship grew. On June 28, 1958 at St. Peter Catholic Church in Forest Lake, MN, Barbara and Dick were united in Holy Matrimony. They were blessed with four children: Richard, Christopher, William and Mary.

Over the next eleven years the Houle family moved 10 times, due to Dick’s career. The job transfers took them to Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Michigan, Florida, and North Dakota. During these moves Barbara was organized and thrilled by the adventure of each move. In 1971, Barbara and Dick finally returned to Minnesota, settling in Prior Lake to finish raising their children. During this time she enjoyed her 20 plus year job collecting lunch money at Grainwood Junior High, and relished in the years watching those children grow up. Most of Barbara’s life was being that of a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. For over 12 years, Barbara cared for her grandchildren while their parents went off to work. And throughout all of this there was always a dog by their side, German Shepherds being one of her most favorite!

Barbara was always searching for that dream home floor plan to build. But instead in 1988, she and Dick found their perfect home on Cedar Lake in New Prague, MN; retiring back to Prior Lake in 2006. Barbara enjoyed spending her days reading all types of books, completing crosswords puzzles, being well dressed and finding special treasures on the QVC network. Furthermore she enjoyed traveling, singing, painting ceramics and decorating her home for the holidays. Barbara loved all types of animals, the seasons of Minnesota, and driving fast in her Olds 98 Regency. She truly relished going out to eat, and always finished with dessert.

The most important thing to Barbara was family; she felt she was her children and grandchildren’s moral anchor, swelling with pride at how well her family got along. She was dedicated to her faith, instrumental in setting up as well as chairing the first Elementary Faith Formation Board at St Michael’s in the early 70’s. As a person being passionate about life, upon her passing, Barbara gave the ultimate gift of donating her body to the University of Minnesota Science Research Program.

Barbara’s legacy will live on in Richard, her husband of 57 years; son, Rich (Dee) Houle and their children: Alex, Lydia, and Claire; son, Chris (special friend Barb) Houle and his children: Ashley and John; son, Bill (Carmel) Houle and their children: Gabrielle and Emily; son-in-law, Phil (Teri) Grimm and their children: Dan and Lindsey; and her beloved dog, Sassy.

There to greet Barbara home in heaven is her cherished daughter, Mary Grimm; her mother, Yvonne, and other family and friends.

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