It is with great sadness that the family of Barbara Jean McWilliams (75), of Rockford, announces her passingsurrounded by her family on Saturday, December 12, 2020, at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center. Born August 30, 1945, in Belvidere, the daughter of Clarence and Betty Raddatz. She graduated fromAuburn High School in 1963.Married Lloyd McWilliams (Rockford) on May 7, 1966, in Cherry Valley.

If you look up the word "Matriarch" in the dictionary, you would find her photo.She always kept tabs on her family.You would find her helping them with homework, watching them play sports, or seeing them at their birthday parties. The last years of her life were spent fighting an assortment of illnesses, but she never complained about the pain she was going through.One of the illnesses would eventually stop her from being able to sew or quilt, so it was her goal to make sure everyone had one of her handmade "creations" such as quilts, table runners or wall hangings. She loved traveling to see one of her grandson's dive or run cross country. She also made sure to be able to watch another great grandson golf.She tried to make sure she attended as many functions or held them herself, so she could see all of them.She loved hearing all the jokes they would tell and the other funny things they always did around her.She would make sure they all would have the right presents for Christmas by working that out with her son or daughter and getting that list and checking it twice.She loved seeing them tear through the presents she had so carefully wrapped for them.She learned how to online shop in the last 10 years, so she was done with her Christmas shopping by December 1st or earlier.If someone got a stain on their clothes or ripped a pair of jeans, over to Grammy Barb so she could mend them or use her "magic" soap to clean them.She also loved spending time with her best friend Dixie whom she quilted with.They would meet almost every day to sew, quilt, or drive to the quilt store to pick up material.They had a special group of ladies that met every other Wednesday for the quilting group.The quilting group started at a local organization, but soon they had moved to Grammy's house for the meeting.She also spent time with her special niece.They would get together and talk about how her life was going and they would try and solve each other's problems.Barb was especially proud of her daughter and son; they both had terrific jobs and had done such a great job raising their families. Now one would think, "Wow that lady was so busy, no way she could have time for anything else."Well, you would be wrong.Besides doing all these things for her family, she was the BEST supporting wife to her husband and his passion for golf and more specifically teaching juniors.

Barb will forever be missed. She is preceded in death by her parents Clarence and Betty Raddatz; brother Westley Raddatz; sister Linda Galbraith. Barb is survived by her husband, Lloyd McWilliams; daughter, Kimberly (Robert) Kludt; son Patrick (Sheri) McWilliams; sister Mary (Chuck) Rudd. Barb was blessed with six grandchildren: Michelle Kludt, Danielle Spiess, Nikolas Pipitone, Kalden Kludt, Rissa Mikos and Justin McWilliams. She adored her eight great grandchildren: Canden Bowers,Rylee Spiess, Matthew Cashatt, Jonathan Cashatt, Mikah Kludt, Dominik Pipitone, Aden Pipitone, and Braxton Nikos. She was so loved by her niece Karyn (Michael) Young, grandniece, Kilee Kenerson, and sister-in-law, Loraine Raddatz. She also had four very special friends that will miss her dearly, Dixie Luna, Mike and Darlene Johnson, and Lori Mitchell.

The family would like to give a special thanks to Tracey, who performed CPR on her allowing her family to say goodbye to her. Also, another special thanks to the team at OSF ICU as well as nurse Tracey. They were supportive and wonderful to Barb and her family.

The walk-through visitation will be from 3:00-6:00 p.m., Thursday, December 17, 2020 at Anderson Funeral and Cremation Services, 218 W. Hurlbut Ave., Belvidere, IL 61008. Services will be private. Live Stream of services will take place 6:30 p.m., Thursday, December 17, 2020. To access the live stream please visit Barbara's obituary page at www.AndersonFCS.com. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the family to help establish a memorial scholarship fund. To light a candle or share a memory please visit www.AndersonFCS.com