Barbara A. (Lyczek) Cook

BARBARA A. COOK (nee Lyczek), age 83. Beloved wife of the late Joseph. Loving mother of Vincent (Nicki), Anthony (Amy), Christopher (Jeannie), and Suzanne Gross (Howie). Cherished grandmother of Brandi Garsteck, Alexis Cook, Howie, and Ashley Gross. Dear sister of Gregory Lyczek (Sandra), Paul (Karen), Valorie Lyczek-Way (Steven), Karen (Bill Rafferty), and late Audrey Lyczek-Roser (Dale). Devoted aunt, cousin, and friend of many.

She passed away on Thursday, May 18, 2023 surrounded by her family, and is now at rest and in peace with her husband, Joseph who passed away just 6 months earlier. Friday May 12th was to be their 61st wedding anniversary.  This was the first one she had to endure alone and her heart just couldn’t take it. Barb possessed such a spirit and had so much life in her but it was her time to leave and to join the man of her dreams. She will be missed by so many people, but especially by her family. 

Barb was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother to many. She grew up on Cleveland’s West Side and graduated from Saint Stephen’s High School in 1958.  She met the love of her life, Joseph, at SS Kresge Company back when she was 16 years old.  Dating turned into a wonderful relationship as they were married in 1962 and were together for over 60 years. She was an outgoing social butterfly, so opposite of her husband, but they complimented each other just perfectly and were a great team together.

Throughout the years of her life, Barb was a wonderful caregiver, always thinking of others. Growing up, she was the oldest of 7 children and was constantly caring for her younger siblings to later on raise four children of her own. She was always putting others ahead of herself and that was such an admirable quality instilling that same value in others she raised that will never be forgotten. She was such a humble woman and people were so blessed to be surrounded by her and all of her wisdom and especially of her idioms. She was famous for telling these to people around her, getting a good chuckle. She was a very outgoing person, a “social butterfly” for sure, always surrounding herself with people who were either Avon customers or just family and friends. She was an Avon lady for over 50 years helping to support her family and enjoyed every minute of it. She also was in a bowling league for many years enjoying the company of her friends and neighbors establishing relationships that lasted a lifetime. Family functions were her favorite! She truly enjoyed being the center of attention and cracking jokes, some a bit “edgy” or telling stories that everyone loved hearing. She had a wonderful memory and could remember every single detail of every person’s life. She could even tell directions quite well in the days before GPS and she didn’t even drive!!  Her greatest passions were watching her birds on the feeders, playing board games, especially Scrabble, scratching instant lottery tickets, and constantly watching the News and Wheel of Fortune. Barb also kept in contact with her grade school and High school friends, “Club”, up until the day she passed away. The relationships that she established and sustained are incredible reminders of the true value of life and that shows how wonderful Barb really was. 

She was an incredible role model to not only her friends, but also to her family.  She taught her children wonderful lessons of being a good person, a hard worker and someone who could always be counted on; instilling good morals and values in her children and always being a kind, loving spirit.  She was always there for her children as they were growing up and that is something that will never be forgotten. She was the glue that kept her family together and she forever will be missed.

As well as being a loving mother, she was a wonderful grandmother to her four grandchildren, Brandi, Alexis, Howie, and Ashley. She took great pride in her family and thoroughly enjoyed visiting with them and bragging about them by showing pictures to everybody she could. She loved to joke around and they always knew their grandmother was there to lend a listening ear and love them no matter what.  Her love towards her grandchildren was unconditional and the empathy and joy she gave to them is something they will cherish forever.

A Funeral Service will be held in the funeral home on Thursday May 25, 2023 at 10:30 AM. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. The family will receive friends WEDNESDAY 3 – 7 PM at the A. RIPEPI & SONS FUNERAL HOME, 18149 BAGLEY ROAD, MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS (WEST OF I-71).

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