Figgins, Barbara 'Barb' J.

Barbara “Barb” J. Figgins, 58, of Riverside, passed away Thursday, April 21, 2011, at Mercy Iowa City following a two-year courageous battle with cancer. Celebration of Life Mass will be held Tuesday, April 26, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Riverside. Burial will be in Riverside Public Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday at Peterseim Funeral Home, Kalona, from 3 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m.

Barb Figgins was born June 5, 1952, in Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of Elmer and Clara Edna (Lemley) Sammons. She graduated from Highland High School in 1971. On Feb. 8, 1975, she was united in marriage to Jim Figgins at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Riverside. During high school Barb was a maid at the Ramada Inn, later provided day care in Riverside for 20 years and assisted her husband Jim at his motorcycle shop.

She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Angel's Among Us and the Secret Angel Stitchers. Barb enjoyed traveling, especially trips to Italy and Maine, cooking, shopping, camping, playing bingo, gambling, sewing and scrapbooking. She also enjoyed spending time with her family, especially playing with her granddaughter, Madilyn.

Survivors include her husband, Jim of Riverside; two daughters, Stacey Figgins and Melissa (Jerry) Liska; one granddaughter, Madilynn Jean; parents, Elmer and Clara Sammons of Riverside; three brothers, Marvin (Mary Beth) Sammons of Riverside, Gary (Kaye) Sammons of Riverside and John (Becki) Sammons of Iowa City; and one sister, Janet (Chuck) Wieland of Riverside.

Preceding Barb in death were her grandparents; and her father- and mother-in-law, Ned and Jane Figgins.

A memorial fund has been established for Iowa City Mercy Hospice and the Iowa City Cancer Center.