Obituary: Barbara Peterson Reily

Barbara Peterson Reily

June 9, 1936 – Nov. 6, 2012

Barbara Peterson Reily, 76, of Cupertino, Calif., passed away peacefully on Nov. 6, 2012, in Mountain View. A private graveside ceremony will be held in Ventura, CA on March 25, 2013.

Barbara was born June 9, 1936, in San Francisco, Calif., the daughter of Elmer and Sybil Peterson. She attended Washington Elementary School, Ventura Junior High and Ventura Senior High Schools graduating in June, 1954. Barbara was active in school government, holding several offices, and she enjoyed playing both clarinet and piano. She was very well liked, vibrant, perky and smart according to high school classmates.

Barbara attended college at the University of Southern California where she earned a B.S. degree from the USC School of Commerce and graduated Cum Laude in 1958. She was a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, Vice President of the USC Senior Class, and a leader in campus organizations.

Barbara married John Milner Reily on June 6, 1959, at Ventura Community Church, Ventura, CA. They lived in Los Angeles and Tahoe City before Barbara relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1972 with her three sons. Barbara worked 25 years at Syntex Pharmaceuticals in Palo Alto as Material Controls Manager overseeing a vast production operation for many medication products such as Aleve Pain Medication.

She is survived by her three sons, John Reily of Apple Valley, MN, Jeffrey Reily of San Jose, Michael Reily of Los Angeles; other family members including her daughter-in-law, Yuki Reily; and four grandchildren, Marissa, Megan, Darrel, and Sophie.

A devoted, caring, loving mother and grandmother, Barbara will be missed by her three sons and their families. She was always a bright, positive and fun person to be around. Her remains will be buried next to her parents at Ivy Lawn Cemetery in Ventura, Calif., at a private graveside ceremony on March 25, 2013.