Loretta R. Barada, 71, of Lyons

Loretta R. Barada, 71, of Lyons
August 5, 1951 - January 30, 2023

Loretta R. Barada, 71 years, of Lyons, Nebraska, passed away Monday, January 30, 2023 at CHI Health Immanuel in Omaha.  Funeral Mass is Saturday, February 4, 2023, at 10:30 am, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lyons. Visitation will be Friday, 5-7 pm with prayer service and rosary to begin at 7pm, all at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Visitation will also be held Saturday at the church one hour prior to the Mass. Burial at a later date in Lyons Cemetery, Lyons. Memorials can be made to the family for future designation. Pelan Funeral Services of Lyons is in charge of the arrangements.

Loretta Rose (Barnett) Barada was born on August 5, 1951, in Sioux Falls, SD, to Charles, Sr. and Margaret A. Barnett.  Being the baby girl and number 10 of 11 children, her childhood was filled with much joy, many memories, and the expected shenanigans from her big, fun, loving Barnett family.  She attended St. Joseph Cathedral Grade School and O’Gorman High School in Sioux Falls.  Following graduation in 1969, she moved to Aberdeen, SD to attend Northern State College.  Four short, fun years later she graduated with a degree in Education and nervously headed south to Lyons, NE for her first teaching opportunity.

Although her plan was for a short stay before moving closer to home, Loretta fell in love with Lyons, the school and teachers, the community, and above everything her Sam, who she met shortly after moving to town.  As her story goes, she never moved away.  Loretta and Sam were united in marriage on July 9, 1977, in Sioux Falls’ St Joseph’s Cathedral, a very special place to her.  This marriage, lasting over 45 years, was blessed with three children, Brynn, Tony, and Ben.

Her love for helping students, working with children, and inspiring those around her allowed her to thrive in the classroom teaching special education for 34 years, retiring in 2007.  She then served as a substitute teacher for 9 more years, she couldn’t quite stay away.  The number of lives she touched throughout her career is impossible to count.

Her passion to help others reached far beyond her students.  For many years she served as a regular Hearts and Hands volunteer, a member of the St. Joseph’s altar society, and a Eucharistic Minister who took great joy in providing communion and fellowship for the elderly and sick at home.  She was an emotional caregiver and bedside companion for many as they entered into the great Kingdom of Heaven.  She had a natural welcoming spirit and loved just being there for people.

When she wasn’t taking care of (and worrying about) others, she enjoyed reading, going to sporting events, listening to The Beatles, and staying up entirely too late (doing those things, talking to her sisters for hours on the phone, and connecting with friends and family online among other things).  She was proud of her Irish heritage.

Loretta’s pride and joy were her children and grandchildren.  She loved being there for everything they participated in and was a constant source of inspiration, faith, and compassion for them.  For her kids and grandkids alike, their bonds were so strong.  She loved nothing more than when her grandkids came to visit, she lit up at just being in their presence.

Loretta joined God in Heaven on January 30, 2023, held and surrounded by family, just hours after her and Sam renewed their wedding vows in a beautiful ceremony.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Margaret Barnett, sister Margaret “Peggy” (Barnett) Barry and brother-in-law Tom Barry, brother Charles A. “Chick” Barnett, Jr., and brother Father Larry ‘Louie’ Barnett.

Loretta is survived by her husband Sam, daughter Brynn Hayes, Lyons, NE, son Tony (Vicki) Barada, Ceresco, NE, and son Ben (Sara) Barada, Omaha, NE; grandchildren Bailey, Brady, and Brylee Hayes, Graham and Henry Barada, and Violet, A.J. and Archie Barada; siblings Frank (Sheryl) Barnett, Sioux Falls, SD, Pete (Donna-Rae) Barnett, Annandale, VA, Maxine Barnett, St. Cloud, MN, Monsignor Steve Barnett, Sioux Falls, SD, Katie (John) Baldwin, Yankton, SD, Tim (Sally) Barnett, Harrisburg, SD, and Denny (Liz) Barnett, Shawnee, KS; sister-in-law Lenore Barnett, Escondido, CA; brothers-in-law Jim (Linda) Barada, Fremont, NE, Mike (Cheryl) Barada, Omaha, NE, Kelly (Jennifer) Barada, Omaha, NE; along with many nieces and nephews, cousins, and extended family.