Barbara Ann Contat, 83, of Quincy passed away July 5, 2025 surrounded by the love of her family.
Visitation will be held at Dutcher Funeral Home July 10, 2025 from 4:30–7:00 p.m., with the Rosary at 7:00 p.m.
A mass to celebrate her life will be held July 11 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Coldwater.
She was born on March 1,1942 in St. Louis, MO to Edward and Imelda Farrell.
The family moved to Jackson, MI during Barb’s senior year of high school, and she petitioned her parents to remain in St. Louis. Fiercely independent, Barb lived at St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf so she could graduate with her friends and attend Fontbonne College.
Barb graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor of Arts in Deaf Education and in 1968 earned a Master of Special Education from Michigan State University.
After her undergraduate studies, Barb moved to Michigan to begin her career, and to be closer to her parents and sisters. She met and married Michael Contat, and they welcomed three children, Brian, Kevin and Michelle, who were the joy of Barb’s life.
As a stay-at-home mom during her children’s formative years, Barb did flash cards, sports, and library clubs with her children, while also serving as the Executive Secretary for the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) for the State of Michigan. Barb also dabbled in part-time real estate, achieving the million-dollar salesperson award several times.
In 1987, Barb returned to the workforce as a teacher consultant for the hearing-impaired in Ida, MI. Over the next 20 years, she made many friends and left a lasting impact on the program, retiring in 2007.
Barb was full of life! She especially loved “lake life” – swimming, pontoon rides, and water skiing until her mid-60’s. Barb would say that she learned to water ski on the “muddy Mississippi,” and she got to practice at Reelfoot Lake during summer visits with her cousins in Portageville, MO.
On land, she enjoyed golfing, gardening, and volunteering with numerous community organizations including the Coldwater Hospital, the Branch Area Food Pantry and the Tibbits Opera House.
Inside the home, if Barb wasn’t busy in the kitchen trying out a new recipe, you could find her playing bridge with friends, or numerous card games with her grandchildren.
The center of Barb’s life was her faith, and two Catholic parishes were especially important to her – St. Charles Borromeo in Coldwater and St. Joseph in Ida. Barb prayed daily; served the church as a lector, extraordinary minister and homebound minister; and she was a parish council and guild member.
Barb was always up for an adventure and that led her to several overseas trips in early adulthood. While raising her family, spring breaks included numerous road trips visiting various landmarks and cities around the country.
Later in life, some significant trips stood out for Barb, including a Caribbean cruise with her children and her sisters’ families, two trips to Germany to visit Sylvia, an exchange student Barb hosted during the 1994-1995 school year.
Barb celebrated her 75th birthday by taking her children and grandchildren on a fabulous Disney Cruise. One of her last noteworthy trips was a two-week travel club adventure to the Holy Land where she saw many significant biblical sites.
Those who knew Barb will remember her deep love of family, strong convictions, and faith in God.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Marilyn.
Barb is survived by her children, Brian (Stacie) of Marshall, Kevin (Julie) of Pleasant Ridge, and Michelle (Adam) of Delano, MN. Also, grandchildren; Andrew, Allison, Branden, Brody, Jacob, Kaiden and Anika. As well as her sister, Carillon (Robert) Ritz of Adrian, her brother-in-law, William Barone, of Jackson, and multiple cousins. Barb will also be lovingly remembered by her nephews, great-nephews, and great-niece.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Barb’s name to St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (www.agbell.org), or a charity of your choice.
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