Linda Barr

Linda Ann Barr, 78, was a caring mother, grandmother, cousin, and friend. Linda peacefully passed away on May 25 after a courageous battle with bladder cancer.

Linda was born in Chicago on Aug. 26, 1942, and raised in Oak Park. Linda attended Oak Park River Forest High School. Linda married Sheldon Horwitz in 1963 and was married for 23 years. Linda and Sheldon moved in 1975 from Chicago to Evanston, where they raised their two daughters, Joan and Nadine. 

Linda loved Evanston, and we always said she was the unofficial Mayor of Evanston with the happiness the town brought her over the years. After she divorced, Linda started a small handyman and remodeling business, The Fix It Company, to make ends meet – over 25 years ago.

She continued to work until the last couple of months. Hers was a well-known company in Evanston. Many of her customers became friends. She was an annual fixture at the Custer Street Fair, always in the same spot under the train tracks. Linda never wanted to retire and felt like running the business in a town she adored was her way of living.

Linda loved her weekly phone calls with friends and family, learning Spanish, adventures in the city, meeting new people, long walks, spending time with family, shopping, and, of course, ice cream

Linda was a beloved mother of her daughters, Joan (George) Koriath and Nadine (Adam) Smith.  She was a proud grandmother to Lillian and Elliott Koriath and Dylan and Wyatt Smith. Linda had many close friends and family that she spoke to on a regular basis. She cherished her lifelong friendships and family who were near and dear to her.  She was preceded in death by her parents Sidney and Naomi (Sensibar) Barr; brother Leon Barr and former husband, Sheldon Horwitz. 

We are forever grateful for all of your love and support during this difficult time. We want to thank her cancer team of amazing doctors, nurse, and support staff at the Kellogg Cancer Center and Northshore Hospice at Evanston Hospital. To our caregivers, Felicia and Judy from Almost Angels, for taking care of our mom, like their own family.

In lieu of food or flowers, please consider donations to any of the following outstanding organizations in the name of Linda A. Barr: CaringBridge, Meals on Wheels-NEI Evanston, Kellogg Cancer Center / NorthShore Hospice – Evanston.