Beatrice M. Barclay of Elma, a registered nurse who devoted countless hours over several decades to volunteer work, died Sat., Sept. 13, 2008 at The Waters of Aurora Park in East Aurora. She was 89.
Born Beatrice Mae Bily on April 19, 1919 in Berwyn, Ill., to the late Joseph and Mae (Vytiska) Bily, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps following her graduation from Oak Park Hospital School of Nursing in 1942. She served during World War II as a surgical nurse at the Alameda Naval Air Station in California, where she met her future husband, Corpsman Harrison L. Barclay. He later became a dentist in private practice in Cheektowaga.
Mrs. Barclay worked in the maternity departments of Millard Fillmore and Children’s hospitals, later moving to Elma with her husband and their three children.
A certified civil defense nurse and Red Cross Instructor, she taught babysitting, home nursing and baby care classes at Iroquois Central Schools and assisted with Red Cross Bloodmobile drives. For a number of years, she was the school nurse at Elma Primary School.
She and her late husband also worked for the Red Cross Disaster Service, assisting fire victims in obtaining emergency housing.
A proud Buffalo News Kids’ Day Volunteer, she sold the special edition newspapers each year until she was 75, if necessary standing atop snow drifts at East Aurora intersections.
At the age of 70, she began working as a volunteer at the Hospice Inpatient facility in Alden, and later as a family support volunteer for Hospice at Millard Fillmore Suburban hospital. She was named a Health Care Hero by Business First for her work with Hospice.
Survivors include two sons, Richard (Marcia) Barclay of Aptos, Califo., and Steven (Jessie) Barclay; one daughter, Barbara (William) Kawa of Elma; a brother, Dick Bily, and a sister, Nancy Lowry, both of Texas; three grandchildren, Jennifer (Patrick) Rizzo, Kathryn (Scott) Millard, and Michael Kawa; and one great-granddaughter, Kacie Elizabeth Rizzo.
Dr. Barclay died in 1990.
Interment will be with her husband at Arlington National Cemetery, where services will be held at a later date. If desired, memorial donations may be made to Hospice Buffalo or the SPCA.
Arrangements were made by Kenneth Howe Funeral Home, East Aurora.