Yolanda H. (Hernandez) Barrio

Torrington- On April 20, 2016 our mother, Yolanda H. Barrio, was granted her angel wings. She died at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital after a series of strokes. She was surrounded by her loving family and friends whose lives she touched deeply.

        The oldest of 5 children, Yolanda Barrio came from very humble beginnings. She was born in Las Vueltas, Cuba on October 24, 1928 daughter of Manuel and Carmen (Gil) Hernandez. She was a resident of Torrington since 1963 and retired as a 3rd grade teacher at Saint Francis School in 1994 after 27 years. She was full of energy and vitality, and she smiled and said “Hello” to everyone she walked by. She loved her students many of whom remained in touch with her through the years. Her friends and family called her “Mrs. B” until her granddaughter, Jaime, coined the name Abu ( short for Abuela in Spanish ) that became the new nickname that most family and friends used.

        Her collection of stone and glass decorative eggs was expansive. A voracious reader, she always had a book in her hand. She also loved her house and enjoyed gardening, flowers, going to lunch, shopping at QVC and even played duck pin bowling. She dearly loved her pets. She was a communicant of Saint Maron’s Church and had been a Eucharistic Minister at Saint Francis of Assisi Church where she also took part in bible study and CCD. She was also a member of the Columbiettes and the Torrington Council of Catholic women.

        My mother was predeceased by our father, Pablo G.Barrio. Survivors include my brother Pablo B. Barrio and his wife, Jeanne, of Torrington; myself Yoly Barrio and my life partner, Steven Sanford, of Baldwinsville, NY; her brother, Victor Hernandez and his wife, Anita, and her sister, Teresa Hernandez and her husband, Wilfredo Morera, all of Miami, FL; her granddaughter, Jaime Barrio Lawless and her husband, Sean Lawless of Liverpool, NY; two great-grandchildren, Riley and Robert Lawless; and many step grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

        The Divine Liturgy of the Resurrection will be celebrated Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 10:30a.m. at St. Maron’s Church, 613 Main St., Torrington, CT 06790. Gleeson-Ryan Funeral Home, 258 Prospect St., Torrington, is in care of arrangements.

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