Unity Barry
1947-02-14 2021-05-10
Unity Barry
February 14, 1947 - May 10, 2021
Unity made a luminous impression. In Riverside, California, Unity was born both a Valentine´s Day baby, and a Baby Boomer. As unique as the name "Unity" was at that time, it is the beauty and intellect of her essence that made her such a talented artist and writer, loving and nurturing mother and dear friend to so, so many.
After a brave fight with cancer, Unity passed away peacefully on May 10th, 2021, with her daughter holding her hand and her adopted Greyhound by her side. She may have left this earthly world, but not before making her bright and indelible mark on it.
Unity had a radiant, friendly smile which we were blessed to see often. Her deep green eyes revealed the strength of her character, which was formidable when necessary. It was a unique balance that was both powerful and beautiful.
In possession of both a fierce curiosity and a razor-sharp mind, Unity was also a diligent researcher and took the time to do things right. Her everyday handwriting might leave a skilled calligrapher in awe, and her gorgeous skin tone afforded her the luxury of wearing whatever colors and designs she pleased, which she did and with an artistic flair usually achieved by few. Unity sought out and created beauty. From her spectacular garden, in her self-renovated Victorian flat in Bernal Heights where she called home for over 40 years, to the beautiful paintings she created in her home more recently, and a lifetime of achievements which she would have humbly downplayed but were in fact remarkable, including earning a paralegal degree with honors, whilst working full time and managing an unruly teenage daughter, all as a single mother with no support from the outside, Unity was a class act.
She taught her daughter the most important lessons in life with love and compassion. Unity was an amazing mother. She found inspiration in female trailblazers in the arts and beyond. She herself was a trailblazer, breaking female stereotypes, perhaps not recognizing her own vital role to her daughter.
Unity´s heart was also dedicated to the many rescue dogs in her life which she always considered and treated like family.
Unity placed importance on physical safety and took measures to ensure she, her family and neighbors were always safe. She prepared thoroughly for emergencies that could take place and she took such matters seriously. In short-she cared about life.
Unity wrote exceptionally well. She painted and sang beautifully. She was highly skilled at gardening. Her remarkable, encyclopedic knowledge could easily retrieve the most detailed facts she had absorbed over the decades, on the drop of dime, at any time and up until the end. She was a MENSA shoo-in, but was clearly too wise for them. Plus, she had more important things to do!
In retirement, Unity shined, and her talents developed and blossomed as she delved into a world of writing, singing, and painting, with the undisputed passion and faithful rigor of all her endeavors. She traveled frequently, writing, and sharing inspired stories while visiting the globe. She touched the lives of so many, including her work with Toastmasters, Life into Literature, Writing Out Loud, Readings at Book Passage, West Coast Writers, neighborhood art groups, CERT, The OMI Senior Center Choir, and the SGI organization where she found contentment and meaning in Buddhism.
Unity is survived by Harmony, Robert, Dash, David, Graham, Temple, Juan José, many other family members and by a wild and wonderful tribe of friends such as Carol, Linda, Antoinette, Kunal, and so many others. A celebration of Unity´s life will take place on June 27th at her home.
Donations can be made to
Synergy School in SF:
https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/synergyschool
KQED:
www.donate.kqed.org
https://beyondthedash.com/obituary/unity-barry-1082491801
February 14, 1947 - May 10, 2021
Unity made a luminous impression. In Riverside, California, Unity was born both a Valentine´s Day baby, and a Baby Boomer. As unique as the name "Unity" was at that time, it is the beauty and intellect of her essence that made her such a talented artist and writer, loving and nurturing mother and dear friend to so, so many.
After a brave fight with cancer, Unity passed away peacefully on May 10th, 2021, with her daughter holding her hand and her adopted Greyhound by her side. She may have left this earthly world, but not before making her bright and indelible mark on it.
Unity had a radiant, friendly smile which we were blessed to see often. Her deep green eyes revealed the strength of her character, which was formidable when necessary. It was a unique balance that was both powerful and beautiful.
In possession of both a fierce curiosity and a razor-sharp mind, Unity was also a diligent researcher and took the time to do things right. Her everyday handwriting might leave a skilled calligrapher in awe, and her gorgeous skin tone afforded her the luxury of wearing whatever colors and designs she pleased, which she did and with an artistic flair usually achieved by few. Unity sought out and created beauty. From her spectacular garden, in her self-renovated Victorian flat in Bernal Heights where she called home for over 40 years, to the beautiful paintings she created in her home more recently, and a lifetime of achievements which she would have humbly downplayed but were in fact remarkable, including earning a paralegal degree with honors, whilst working full time and managing an unruly teenage daughter, all as a single mother with no support from the outside, Unity was a class act.
She taught her daughter the most important lessons in life with love and compassion. Unity was an amazing mother. She found inspiration in female trailblazers in the arts and beyond. She herself was a trailblazer, breaking female stereotypes, perhaps not recognizing her own vital role to her daughter.
Unity´s heart was also dedicated to the many rescue dogs in her life which she always considered and treated like family.
Unity placed importance on physical safety and took measures to ensure she, her family and neighbors were always safe. She prepared thoroughly for emergencies that could take place and she took such matters seriously. In short-she cared about life.
Unity wrote exceptionally well. She painted and sang beautifully. She was highly skilled at gardening. Her remarkable, encyclopedic knowledge could easily retrieve the most detailed facts she had absorbed over the decades, on the drop of dime, at any time and up until the end. She was a MENSA shoo-in, but was clearly too wise for them. Plus, she had more important things to do!
In retirement, Unity shined, and her talents developed and blossomed as she delved into a world of writing, singing, and painting, with the undisputed passion and faithful rigor of all her endeavors. She traveled frequently, writing, and sharing inspired stories while visiting the globe. She touched the lives of so many, including her work with Toastmasters, Life into Literature, Writing Out Loud, Readings at Book Passage, West Coast Writers, neighborhood art groups, CERT, The OMI Senior Center Choir, and the SGI organization where she found contentment and meaning in Buddhism.
Unity is survived by Harmony, Robert, Dash, David, Graham, Temple, Juan José, many other family members and by a wild and wonderful tribe of friends such as Carol, Linda, Antoinette, Kunal, and so many others. A celebration of Unity´s life will take place on June 27th at her home.
Donations can be made to
Synergy School in SF:
https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/synergyschool
KQED:
www.donate.kqed.org
https://beyondthedash.com/obituary/unity-barry-1082491801