Barbara Bireley, Religious of the Sacred Heart, died at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Oakwood in Atherton on June 22, 2002, age 67. Born and raised in Evanston, IL, she joined the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1958 and served its educational mission at Elmhurst Academy in Portsmouth, RI and Carrollton School in Miami, FL before entering into parish ministry in Detroit, Romeo, MI, Indiantown, FL and Boston. Survivors include her brother, Rev. Robert Bireley, SJ of Chicago; nephews and nieces, Michael Bireley of Dallas, Margaret Snyder of Scottsdale, Mary Beth Chess of Marietta, GA, Martha McCurdy of Northbrook, Mark Bireley of Franklin, MA, Matthew Bireley of Chicago, Susan Drake of Soquel, CA, Robert Samuels of Lake Oswego, OR and Perry Samuels of Woodside, CA. Another brother, John E. Bireley of Wilmette recently preceded her in death. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Oakwood on June 26. Memorial donations may be made to, Religious of the Sacred Heart, 140 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton, CA 94027.
