Barbara A. Bellman

Barbara A. Bellman, 64, of Crystal Lake, passed away peacefully Saturday, November 4th, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. Barb courageously fought and won a 5 year battle with Parkinson’s PSP (Progressive Supra nuclear Palsy), a rare form of Parkinson’s, by being a very classy and warm person to all who cared for her and by enjoying many of her passions up until the very end.  She was born January 21, 1953 in Chicago to Eleanor (Pipcius) and Donald Erbes.  She was the loving wife of William Bellman for 43 years, married April 12, 1975, in Kankakee, IL.

Barb earned a bachelor of science in Nursing from NIU. She spent her first years as a surgical nurse, then as an at-home mom. She finished her professional career as a substitute teacher in the Crystal Lake District 47 schools, retiring in 2011. Barb and Bill both had a passion for traveling and vacationing adventures, and she loved her annual trips to Mackinac Island.  Above all, she enjoyed helping others, especially family and friends, and was known for being very well organized!  She was talented at many crafts including cross-stitching, ceramics, painting, making goodie bags for her grandkids, and home decorating. She delighted in personalizing her cross-stitching and bingo bags as gifts for others for birthdays and holidays. When not helping others, she enjoyed playing bingo, bike riding, bowling, shopping and watching HGTV.  In her early years she was a high 165 average bowler. In her later years, she was known by family and friends as a “professional bingo player”.

Barb is survived by her loving husband, William Bellman; son, Brian Bellman of Crystal Lake; daughter, Breanna (Jason) Pogorzelski of Round Lake Beach; grandchildren, Nicole (10), Lauren (3), and Nolan (3) Pogorzelski;  mother, Eleanor Erbes (96); brother, David Erbes; sister, Karen (Jim) Wagner; father-in-law, William Bellman  (91), sister-in-law, Becky Bellman; brother-in-law, Russell (Kari) Bellman; and many friends and relatives.

She was preceded in death by her father,  Don Erbes and mother-in-law, Betty Bellman.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to all those who cared for Barbara, especially those who came to visit her from “Visiting Angels” in Crystal Lake, especially Ruth, Bindy, and Brenda.

Visitation will be Wednesday, November 8, from 3 PM until the time of a service at 6 PM at Davenport Funeral Home in Crystal Lake.

In memorandum, donations may be made to www.CurePSP.org