Barbara Caughey

Barbara Jean Caughey, 79, of San Antonio, Texas, passed away on April 15th, 2024 in Abilene, Texas.

Visitation followed by Rosary will be from 6:00-7:00 PM at Hamil Family Funeral Home.

Funeral mass will be held at 9:00 AM on Friday, April 19th at Holy Family Catholic Church with Fr. Nilo Nalugon and Msgr. Fred Nawarskas officiating. Interment will take place on Monday, April 22nd at 10:00 AM at Texas State Veterans Cemetery. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.

Barbara was born into San Antonio’s Italian-American community to Ernest and Mary Talerico on June 16th, 1945. She attended St. Gregory the Great Catholic School, and in-between hanging out with friends and driving around in her ‘57 Chevy convertible she graduated from Providence Catholic High School. After the end of her first marriage, Barbara took on the heroic task of raising her daughter as a single mother, forging a tight bond that lasted a lifetime. She married Leroy Caughey (“Papa” to his grandkids) on April 19th, 1975 in San Antonio - their 49th anniversary is this Friday.

Barbara had a work ethic and eye for organization that made her indispensable, and she worked as an administrative assistant for a number of insurance agencies as well as the Bexar County Medical Society. She served as President of the Christopher Columbus Ladies Auxiliary in San Antonio and was the Vice Queen of Abilene’s Red Hat Society. She always leapt at the chance to volunteer for her church, but found a particular vocation as a Religious Education teacher at Holy Family, a role in which she served for over ten years. Barbara had a passion for preparing students to receive their Sacraments, and a devotion to the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

Barbara’s love for her family overflowed her heart and was clear to everyone around her. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, or “Nani”. Her warmth and kindness was not limited to her relatives - Barbara was Nani to everyone who knew her. Her daughter remembers fondly how whenever Barbara would play Canasta with her Wednesday card group, she would keep her friends laughing with her sly sense of humor.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband Leroy Caughey, her mother Mary Talerico, and her father Ernest Talerico.

She is survived by her daughter Barbara Jean Moore and her son-in-law Robert Moore; her brother Vito Talerico; her grandchildren Nicholas Moore, Cameron Moore, Mary Butler, Kathleen Moore, and Gianna Moore; and her great-grandchildren Sawyer Butler and Stella Butler.

Flowers may be sent to The Hamil Family Funeral Home.

The family of Barbara wishes to extend our sincerest thanks to the Hendrick Hospice team and particularly Melissa Hutchings for their loving care in her final days.