Barbara B (Warot) Vander Heyden

Barbara Vander Heyden of St. John, Indiana, formerly of Dyer, Indiana passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on July 2, 2024.

Barbara graduated from Bishop Noll High School in 1963 where she met and married her high school sweetheart Robert (Bob) Vander Heyden. Together they built a beautiful family. She’s survived by beloved husband Bob, her 4 daughters Lisa O’Leary-Schwebel (Andy), Laura Vander Heyden, Lana Horgash (Jeff) and Lynette Smith (Gary), 6 grandchildren Bob and Dan O’Leary, Joe, Brittany and Morgan Horgash, Alexis Defillippis, 8 great grandchildren, sister-in-laws Jan Furman (Brian), Kathy Pearson (Doug), Ruth Hanson (Jim), cousin Pat Margraf, and lifelong friends Sandy Wojcik and Marge Richardson.

Throughout her life, Barbara was active in the Red Hat Society, TOPS, and the Altar & Rosary Society. She found joy in spending time with her grandchildren and had a passion for helping others.

Barbara was enthusiastic in displaying seasonal holiday decorations and was recognized by the Town of Dyer for her efforts in the beautification of the community for all holidays. She was known as “the lady with the big red house on Hart Street with all of the decorations”. She had a great love for animals and was the animal mom to many cats, dogs and horses over the years.

Her greatest achievement was becoming the matriarch of the family she and Bob created and adored. Barbara valiantly fought a 10 year battle with brain cancer.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Humane Society of NWI.

A visitation will be held at Fagen-Miller Funeral Home in St. John on Monday, July 8th from 3pm to 7pm. The Funeral Mass will be directly at St. Joseph’s Church in Dyer on Tuesday, July 9th at 10:30am with burial to follow at Chapel Lawn Cemetery.

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