Barbara Jean Reilly passed away peacefully on October 5, 2025, at Mabie Northside Nursing Facility in Hollister, California.

Barbara was born in San Jose, California, to Holland and Grace Garrett on April 30, 1925. She grew up in San Benito County having lived in Tres Pinos and later Hollister where she graduated from San Benito High School in 1943. While attending her final year of high school, she was employed at the Farm Bureau. In the years after graduation, she worked at the Lathrop Hay Company, Gardner and Beach, and Enterprise Electric.

In 1948, Barbara married John “Jack” Reilly of San Juan Bautista where they made their home in the Mission City with their five daughters. While raising her family, she was a member of the Mission San Juan Bautista parish, the San Juan Young Homemakers, the VFW Auxiliary, the NDGW, the Sacred Heart Mother’s Club, and was a dedicated Brownie/Girl Scout Leader. Barbara also enjoyed dancing with the Mission Mixers and playing Bridge with a local group of friends.

In 1963, Barbara returned to work as an account clerk at the San Benito Office of Education until 1973 when her husband, Jack, was transferred as the new superintendent of the Ideal Basic Industries Terminal in Port Sutton, Tampa. The Tampa Bay became their new home for the next 10 years where Barbara once again worked for the school system.

Upon retirement, Barbara and Jack returned to California where they lived for 11 years in the beautiful Paradise Pines in Magalia, CA, enjoying RV trips with the SIRS, get-togethers at the ELKS, and lots of holidays and visits with their children and grandchildren.

Barbara loved traveling with Jack, family, and friends. This led her to almost all 50 states and to countries abroad. Through their travels, they became endeared to the Palm Desert area and once again moved, living there for 12 years.

In 2012, they made their final move to Santa Maria, CA, together as a couple locating much closer to family. After her husband’s death in 2019, she returned to San Benito County, her original home, completing the circle of her long life’s journey of 100 years.

Barbara is fondly remembered by her family and friends as a beloved wife of 71 years, a truly loving and devoted mother to her 5 daughters/sons-in-law, and a wonderful, caring role model to her 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. She always placed her family first and will forever be remembered in all the hearts of those that knew and loved her.

Surviving Barbara are her daughters, Paddy Jo Castagnetto (Paul) of Indio, Sidney Foster (Bud) of Bainbridge Island, WA, Jackie Donovan (Dennis) of Arroyo Grande, Holly McBride (Mark) of San Juan Bautista, Shawn Horn (Rick) of Santa Maria, 31 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Jack Reilly, parents, Holland and Grace Garrett, sister, Lorraine Woodman, and granddaughter, Holland McBride.

The family would like to thank Bridge Home Health and Hospice for their wonderful support and care.

Above all, the family wishes to express their deepest love and appreciation to their “extended family,” the nurturing and devoted staff of Mabie Northside Nursing Facility. Their professional, warm, and welcoming care brought much joy to Barbara and her family. The family is profoundly grateful for all of the love, compassion and friendship that she received at the place she called “Home” every day for the past five years.

To honor Barbara’s request, services and interment will be held privately.