Loretta L. Barrett, 88, of Du Quoin, passed away at 11:55 P.M., Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at the Pinckneyville Nursing and Rehab Center.
Loretta was born December 17, 1934 in Frederick, IL, the daughter of Dalphie R. "Poodle" and Inez (Gray) Smith.
Loretta graduated with the 1952 class of Du Quoin Township High School and De Paul School of Nursing in St. Louis which affiliated with St. Louis University in 1955.
On April 7, 1957, she married Donald D. Barrett of Du Quoin at the First Christian Church in Du Quoin, IL. They had one daughter, Diane. Loretta was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Du Quoin and the Crusaders Sunday School class. She practiced her nursing profession at Marshall Browning Hospital, Dr. Clarence Kelly's office and Pinckneyville Community Hospital, where she was the Assistant Director of Nursing Services. In 1971, she completed studies in electrocardiography and coronary care in St. Johns Hospital in Springfield, IL. She later returned to St. Johns Hospital to study and be certified to supervise heart stress testing. Loretta taught adult education for Rend Lake College for eleven years. She served on the Perry County Cancer Society, was for over twenty years President of the Carbondale Chapter of the United Ostomy Association. She also completed the requirement of the American Cancer Society to be an ostomy visitor. At the request of the physician, she saw patients facing ostomy surgery before and after their surgery. This covered from Mt. Vernon to the southern border of Illinois. For many years she did cardiometry screenings for the Illinois Heart Association, screening hundred of resident in our area and our Du Quoin community. She completed all the requirements necessary to become an American Red Cross Nurse in February of 1959. She began fulfilling this ambition at Jefferson Barracks Hospital in St. Louis in 1952 as a student nurse and completed the requirements of volunteer work in 1959. She was a member of the committee at John A. Logan College to help develop the healthcare curriculum for the school.
She was an active member of the Registered Nurses Educational League which is concerned with helping prospective nurses complete their schooling and pass the state board exams. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Kappa Nu and Xi Eta Gamma Chapters and was a past secretary and treasure of Kakpa Nu Chapter.
She was a loving and adoring member of her family. She was very proud of her community and tried to be helpful to anyone who needed her. She so appreciated her friends. Loretta loved the fine arts, especially music.
She leaves behind her husband - Don Barrett of Du Quoin, daughter - Diane Extine and husband Kevin of Muncie, IN, grandchildren - Jordan and Caleb of Muncie, IN, Hunter and Christina of Fishers, IN, and Jessica and Charlie of St. Petersburg, FL, great grandchildren - Nahla, Steven, Reagan, and Brinley, nieces and nephews, all of whom she loved dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, one brother - Charles A. Smith, two sisters - Barbara Cavins and Teresa Zoller, many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M., Monday, February 27, 2023 at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin with Rev. April Turner officiating.
Friends may call from 9 A.M. until the time of service on Monday at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin.
Burial will be in the Sunset Memorial Park in Du Quoin.
Friends may make memorials to the Alzheimer's Association or Perry County Humane Society and will be accepted at the funeral home.