Barbara Clare Hallstrom, age 86, of Douglasville, Georgia, passed away Friday, March 11, 2022. She was born December 16, 1935 in East Cleveland, Ohio. A strong, intelligent and compassionate woman, Barbara was always helping others. She loved teaching, which was her primary career for over 50 years of her life. Barbara began her career in the Miami School System, and since 1984, had worked in the DeKalb County School District until her retirement in 2016. Barbara was instrumental in the founding of the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl, serving as Former State Steering Committee Member and as a presenter in the Georgia Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl. Barbara loved to read and was an avid fan of historical fiction and non-fiction. Her love of reading resulted in her advocacy to promote and enhance recreational reading for children. Barbara was a devout Catholic and an active member of St. John Vianney Catholic Church, where she was a volunteer for the St. Vincent dePaul society, helping to pay utility bills, and run food banks. During the Covid pandemic, she took over half of the job of coordinating other volunteers to keep the SVdP society performing it’s mission. A talented seamstress, Barbara loved sewing and made her own clothes at one point.
Preceding her in death were her beloved husband of more than thirty years, George Hallstrom; her parents, Paul and Anna Marie Keck; brother, Paul Keck, Jr, and sister, Anna Marie Dorcas.
Those left to cherish her memory are two sons, Eric Hallstrom and Edward Hames (Julie); daughter, Debra Heaton (Joe); her sister, Sister Kathleen Keck; as well as numerous other family members and many friends.
A funeral mass will be held Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 11 am at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 1920 Skyview Drive, Lithia Springs, GA 30122. Following the service, Barbara will be laid to rest at Sunrise Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memory of Barbara Hallstrom to St. Vincent de Paul Society (nationwide) at https://ssvpusa.org or the local branch, St. John Vianney Catholic Church, https://www.sjvpar.net
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whitleygarner.com for the Hallstrom family.
Services have been entrusted to the care of Whitley-Garner at Rosehaven Funeral Home, 8640 Rose Avenue, Douglasville, Georgia 30134
