Josephine Barrord

July 4, 1926 - May 19, 2019

Josie Ray Barrord, 92, began her life July 4, 1926 with fireworks and had a spark and spirit that burned brightly throughout her life. She passed away May 19, 2019. Josie was a lifelong Alliance resident and the youngest of three children in the family of John Francis and Mary Kate (Farrell) Ray. She attended St. Joseph School and graduated from Alliance High School. Josie was Secretary to the Plant Superintendent at Babcock & Wilcox Company, Tubular Products Division when she met the love of her life, Vincent Roche Barrord. They recently celebrated the 70th anniversary of their first date which was on St. Patrick’s Day, 1949. They were married July 14, 1951 and welcomed four children into the world between 1952 and 1957. Josie was an avid golfer and a keen competitor. She and Vince were members of the Alliance Country Club (ACC) for 60 years and the Lake Henry Golf and Tennis Club in Winterhaven, Florida for 25 years. She and Vince won the ACC Husband & Wife Tournament in 1969. Her family was among the charter members of Regina Coeli Catholic Church where she was active in various women’s groups. Josie lived her faith through action. In 1968, she and Vince, welcomed her elderly parents into their home and cared for them for more than eight years while raising their young family. She also faithfully assisted her ailing brother and many other family members and friends in need. Throughout her life, Josie was blessed with high energy, intelligence, spunk, humor and a continual sense of fun only exceeded by her completely selfless love for her family. At 91, Josie was still cooking, driving, shopping and managing her household until December 2017 when she suffered a fall in her home. Since that time, she battled fiercely to recover. Her tenacity was an inspiration to her family as well as the many physicians who cared for her. The family would like to extend special gratitude to the physicians and medical professionals who treated her and the friends who prayed for her over the last 18 months. The family is also grateful to the members of the Homebound Ministry from Regina Coeli Church who faithfully brought her weekly Holy Communion. Josie was especially proud of her Irish and Swiss heritage and was beloved as the Matriarch of her family and extended Farrell family clan. Survivors include her husband, Vince and her children, Kathryn Jo Barrord Nagel of Brecksville, Vincent Ray Barrord of San Diego, California, John Francis (Julie) Barrord of Middletown and Mary Nell Barrord Gorski of Liberty Township, Ohio. She was especially proud of her nine grandhildren and was always up to date on what was happening in each of their lives. They include, Kathleen Gorski Alexander of Andover, MA, Jacqueline Nagel Selph of Baltimore, MD, Michelle Gorski Matusicky of New Albany, OH, John Vincent Barrord of Raleigh, NC, John Frederick Nagel of Bay City, MI, Kelly Barrord of Pittsburgh, PA, Michelle Barrord of Cincinnati, Jennifer Barrord of Cleveland and Elizabeth Barrord of Austin, TX. She warmly welcomed her grandchildren’s husbands, Brenden Alexander, John Selph, Dan Matusicky and Kelly’s fiancé, Jason Grose, into the family and especially delighted in her five great grandchildren, Sloan Josephine and Gus Alexander, Eilie and Vincent Matusicky and Paxton Selph. She is also survived by her sister, Betty Scaia and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her parents, her brother, John, and sisters-in-law Sara Barrord Rossberg and Mary Nell Barrord Koah. as well as sons-in-law Frederick Nagel and James Gorski. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Patrick Manning, PhD. on Thursday, May 30, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. at Regina Coeli Catholic Church, Alliance with burial immediately following at St. Joseph Cemetery. Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29th at Sharer-Sterling Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Regina Coeli Elementary School Endowment Fund, 733 Fernwood Blvd., Alliance, OH 44141 or Covenant House, a shelter for homeless teens in New York City at CovenantHouse.org.