Barbara Sutherland

Barbara Lynn Sutherland passed away peacefully at home on June 23, 2026, after a 10-year battle with cancer. She was born in Rockford to Burt and Rose Riffle on March 24, 1957. She graduated from Auburn High School in 1975. She married John B. Sutherland in Rockford in 1978, and together they raised three children. 

Barb loved being “Grandma” and “Aunt Barb” to many and enjoyed hosting big family holidays with her late husband. They filled the house with music year-round. Barb loved to sing and had a beautiful voice but said she identified with the lyrics of Harry Chapin’s “Mr. Tanner”: “He did not know how well he sang; it just made him whole.”

Barb worked at Rockford Products Corporation for 35 years until the day it closed in 2016. She then worked for 10 years at Eisenhower Middle School before retiring at the end of May. She enjoyed working around teenagers after surviving the manufacturing industry. 

Barb is survived by her children, Sarah (Ethan) Longhenry, John (Krissy), and Seth (Sarah Jean); and her grandchildren, Julianna, Maia, Nate, Ella, Brayden, Mackenzie, Daisy, Nevan, Elowen, Irving, and Winston. She is also survived by her siblings, Tom, Sharon (Randy) Foster, David (Sherri), Jim, and Joe (Kelli); aunts and uncles; numerous nieces and nephews; and numerous cousins.  Barb was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her sister, Donna. 

For all the care and support they provided, Barb’s family would like to thank their church family; the friends from various parts of her life who kept her company in her final months; her co-workers at Eisenhower; the medical staffs at UW Health Carbone Cancer Center Rockford and Swedish-American Hospital; and the nurses and staff at Sanctuary Hospice who enabled Barb to be at home for her final days.

A visitation for Barbara will take place on October 24th, 2026, at Williams Tree Farm from 11 am to 1 pm, with a memorial service to immediately follow.

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