Barbara Ann Hammond

Barbara "Barb" Hammond, 90, of Coconut Creek, Florida, passed away peacefully on October 13, 2026, leaving behind a family who adored her and a legacy of love, kindness, service, and learning that will live on for generations.

Born to Wilbur and Josephine Rothan, Barb was raised with a love of family, community, and education. She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband of 68 years, Richard "Dick" Hammond; her sister, Adele "Mary" Rothan; her children, William Leander and Melissa Dunlap; and many other loved ones who welcomed her home.

In 1957, Barb married the love of her life, Dick Hammond in Peoria, Illinois. Together they built a beautiful life centered on family, faith, friendship, and service. Their marriage was truly a love story for the ages. Through every challenge and every joy, they were side by side. After losing Dick earlier this year, Barb missed him deeply. It brings comfort to those who loved them to know they are together again, reunited just in time to celebrate what would have been Dick's 90th birthday.

Barb is survived by her children, Matthew (Sabina) Hammond, Michelle (Joe) Disabato, and Marty (Jamie) Hammond, her sister Charlene (David) Glore, along with her many cherished grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who brought endless joy to her life.

For decades, Barb taught first grade at Oak Grove Grade School in Bartonville. She retired in 2001 after a career spent helping young children discover the joy of learning. Teaching wasn't simply her profession. It was part of who she was.

But if you asked Barb what mattered most, she would have said family.

Throughout the years she loved gathering everyone together, especially during the holidays. Her home was filled with conversation, laughter, and a healthy spirit of competition around the game table. Her children and grandchildren knew they could often find her working on a jigsaw puzzle, quietly finishing a crossword puzzle or ready to play a game of Scrabble or Chinese checkers. She was an avid reader throughout her life and was proud to be a founding member of the Alpha Park Library in Bartonville, helping foster a love of reading in her community that mirrored the love she carried herself.

Barb and Dick also shared a heart for serving others. More than forty years ago, they began traveling to Haiti, where they witnessed tremendous need and felt called to help. Together they helped establish Friends of the Children of Haiti (FOTCOH), a mission that became one of the great purposes of their lives. Their compassion, generosity, and faith touched countless lives both at home and abroad.

Those who knew Barb will remember her warm smile, her quick wit, her love of books and puzzles, and most of all her unwavering devotion to her family. She made people feel welcome, valued, and loved. Whether she was teaching a child to read, helping a grandchild solve a crossword clue, or simply sharing time around the kitchen table, Barb had a gift for making ordinary moments feel special.

The greatest legacy Barb leaves behind is not found in the things she accomplished, but in the people she loved. Her family was her pride and joy, and her influence will continue to be felt in their lives for years to come.

After nearly seven decades of marriage, Barb and Dick are together once again, and those who loved them can take comfort in imagining their reunion. A life so full of love is never truly gone. It lives on in the stories, traditions, and memories shared by all who were fortunate enough to know her.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Friends of the Children of Haiti (fotcoh.org), continuing the mission that Barb and Dick devoted so much of their lives to advancing.