The home health care community lost one of its leading lights last month, when Barb Byers died at age 68, after battling cancer for over two months. Barb passed away Monday December 20, 2021, at 1:45 a.m. in her home surrounded by her husband Ron and three children.
Barb was the founder and CEO of Western Illinois Home Health Care and member of the Private Duty Home Care at NAHC Advisory Council. She was a pioneer and revolutionary in bringing the home healthcare concept to western Illinois. Her vision and compassion allowed thousands of individuals and families to be cared for at home with the empathy and dignity they so richly deserved over the last 40 years. In addition to her own business Barbara also served in the leadership of the Illinois Home Care and Hospice Council and helped shape the industry statewide. Caring and providing for others was Barbara’s life’s work and will be her legacy.
Last year, NAHC asked Barb about the most rewarding part of her job and she responded that “hearing from people in my community how we served them and their loved ones and how wonderful and important the service was.”
We urge you to read the entire interview with Barb Byers, which ran in the April 2, 2021 edition of the Private Duty Source.
Barb is survived by her husband Ron of Roseville, IL; three children Dan (Melissa) Byers of Roseville, IL, Jennifer (Jeff) Podhajsky of Princeville, IL, and Amanda (Joel) Newman of Monmouth, IL; grandchildren Aidan Podhajsky, James Podhajsky, Thomas Podhajsky, Sam Podhajsky, Lydia Podhajsky, John Podhajsky, Ariana Byers, and Hayven Byers; two sisters Sharon (John) Wax of Newman, IL, and Carol (Corky) Shaw of Roseville, IL. She was preceded in death by her parents, one infant sister, and her brother George Ray.
Everyone at the National Association for Home Care & Hospice extends our heartfelt condolences to Barb’s family and we bless her memory of service to her family, her community, and her many patients.
You can watch a moving video tribute to the life of Barb Byers here.