Remembering Diane Barry

Diane Barry's life was grounded upon a bedrock foundation of faith, family, and service. An administrative assistant at Aon Corp. on the 93rd floor of Tower Two, Diane Barry had arrived an hour early for work that day. She had a heart of gold and a wonderful sense of humor, and is survived by her husband Ed and her children Brian, Kevin, and Maureen. She was 60 years old.

A devout Catholic born and raised in Pompton Lakes, N.J., Diane Yacco met her husband Ed in the summer of '63 on the Jersey Shore. They were married the next year, and would make their life in Staten Island, New York.

Diane always thought of others, and for 27 consecutive years taught Sunday School at Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church on Staten Island. She was later selected to organize wedding rehearsals for parishioners. Throughout the years, Diane was a rock in her community and for her family. Her husband would describe her this way, "There was just something about her personality. No matter what difficulties she had to face, she never seemed to get flustered or move away from that center. It was her soul." At work too, she always stayed on top of things. "She was always prepared," recalled Ed Barry. "She always liked to start the day before the rest of the office did."

When that terrible moment came, we can know that Diane was at peace with her Lord and had no fear in its eternal definition. Months before, Barry rung in her 60th birthday -- where else? -- at Windows on the World at the World Trade Center. She was asked how she could stay so calm working so high above the ground. Her answer, "I'm always ready to meet my Lord." There was that centeredness, that calm sense of purpose, that was just a part of who Diane Barry was.

You can learn more about Diane at this profile (and also here), and read messages from her family and friends at this memorial guestbook.

We will never forget 9/11/01, or Diane Barry, or the 2,995 other brave souls we lost that day.

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