Barbara Ann
Woolam
Barbara Ann Woolam lost her 37-year battle with Breast Cancer, June 19, 2026, at 2:25PM surrounded by her husband and daughters, who held her close as she passed from this life. Barbara was an absolute warrior in all things; there was no one tougher. She had a tremendous desire for people to know her story to give hope, because a diagnosis of breast cancer will occur for 1 in 8 women. Of those patients, 20-30% of women diagnosed at early stage will eventually see their disease metastases.
At 35, Barb was diagnosed with Ductal carcinoma insitu (DCIS), a diagnosis that became part of her life journey. She faced every challenge with incredible strength, courage, determination and an unwavering spirit. Barb followed protocol after her initial diagnoses, but then in 1993, she received news her breast cancer had metastasized.
She sought help from Mayo Clinic of Rochester, where she was advised to “go home and get her affairs in order,” as her cancer was much advanced. Barb refused because she had little girls at home that needed her and entered a clinical research trial with St.
Louis University after visiting Mayo Clinic in 1993. She was in the hospital there for 20 days with high dose chemo and stem cell replant. More recently she was approved for injections which were a novel approach with radiation. Oncologists were waiting in the wings how it worked so they could advance it for other patients.
Throughout her battle, there were times when she became more than a patient-she became an advocate, a pioneer, and a voice for others. Her courage to participate in experimental research helped advance the fight against the disease and helped forged new pathways for young women diagnosed with breast cancer, helping create hope and opportunities for those who would follow in her footsteps. She was a hero.
Her commitment to awareness and support extended beyond research. In the community of Macomb, she volunteered for the Reach to Recovery program with McDonough District Hospital. She petitioned the City of Macomb to begin a breast cancer awareness campaign that placed pink ribbons on the light poles surrounding the Macomb Square, creating a visible symbol of hope, strength, remembrance, and unity.
Through this effort, she brought awareness and inspired countless people in this community and others.
In 1999, the cancer came back, so she had surgery and fought some more, but she decided to go her own way; no treatments and just live. In 2016, she found out it had aggressively spread throughout her body, and she has fought hard for the last 10 years. Barbara repeatedly proved that a person’s will is more powerful than any sum of averages contrived to create a life expectancy given to patients at diagnosis.
She got lots of those over the years, and she beat them all to dust. Even during her most difficult last days, when exhaustion weighed heavily on her, she would not give up. While the standard life expectancy for metastatic breast cancer is 3-5 years, Barb raged against that average with everything she had for 37 years, making her a statistical anomaly that fought and won an 825% (9.25-fold) increase in time for herself and family. Beautiful moments gained. She saw daughters graduate, not only from high school, but colleges; watched wedding bouquets flip through the air in celebration. She got to hold 5 grand babies, that she got to see crawl, then walk and finally run, carving their own paths into the world.
Barbara’s path was varied and colorful.
She was born on August 19, 1953, to Ralph and Betty Pestle. Grew up in Bushnell, and lived there until she met and married, our father, Donald Eugene Woolam. They married June 4, 1972, at a little country church called Ebenezer Presbyterian, not too far from where they made a house a home just south of Macomb. They lived there for 54 years, grew 3 strong daughters on 3.5 beautifully manicured acres. Barb assisted with providing for her family throughout their marriage, working at Oscer drug at the film counter, the Union National bank computer center, she then used her meticulous booking keeping talents for the regional office of Education and ESCS offices. She went to Chicago and helped select and purchase the very first computers that were placed in Macomb District 185 schools. She later moved to Western Illinois University, working in multiple programs to manage their budgets, retiring from the Western Illinois University Department of Agriculture after 25 years. She put her heart and soul into doing all these jobs to the very best of her abilities. These jobs were what our mother did, and she did them well, it’s not all she was. Barb was a mother who loved her daughters fiercely, and she tried so hard for them every single day, through her pain to experience abundant joy. She instilled her toughness and tenacity in all 3 daughters. Barbara was a talented seamstress, making her own wedding dress, and bridesmaid dresses in 1972. She also made her little daughters’ clothes and costumes, their diaper bags for babies, and beautiful blankets. She sold her sewn creations at various craft fairs and on Spoon River Drive.
She was a good carpenter; Barb and Donnie together made beautiful projects together.
In fact, thinking about it, there really was nothing she couldn’t do. She was a renaissance woman.
Barb and Donnie travelled as much as they could, hiking glaciers, and rocky trails, catching beads at Mardi Gras, picnicking with Willie Nelson…experiencing life. She loved the sun and hated weeds. Her gardens were a beautiful blooming showcase, that she put time and love into. It was well known in the family, and a beloved neighbor that only Barb mowed the front yard. She had her peccadillos, but don’t we all?
She loved watching her grandchildren’s sporting events, Peyton’s swimming and bowling, Bracey’s volleyball, Navarre’s swimming, Thomas’ soccer and Ravenna’s gymnastics. She always had a fun project for them to do. They were always in her thoughts. All her grandchildren wanted everyone to know that Grandma was an amazing cook, and they had their favorites, the Mac and Cheese, strawberry and peach jams, pumpkin and apple breads, waffles.
The adults loved her famous green potato salad made with her canned lime pickles.
Her chili. We never went hungry.
Barb loved left right center with her family, laughing and talking some serious card game smack. She was an amazing woman, never without opinion. Spicy, never dull, but always genuine.
Her legacy will live on not only through the lives she touched personally, but also through the lives she changed through advocacy, research, and compassion. She will be remembered for her strength, determination, and her unwavering commitment to making a difference for herself and others.
Our beautiful, brave mom will be missed.
Barbara Ann Woolam was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Betty Pestle of Bushnell, and her in-laws, Lloyd and Virginia Woolam, and too many dear family and friends to name.
She leaves her family to grief her, Husband, Donald Eugene Woolam of Macomb, IL; their daughters, Brandi Woolam of Macomb IL, Dawn Woolam (Tommy Teel) of Macomb Il, and Stacey Hawley (Quintt Hawley) of Aurora, CO, five grandchildren; Peyton Teel, Navarre Hawley, Bracey Teel, Ravenna Hawley and Thomas Borrel III.
Her brothers Jerry Pestle (Debbie Pestle) of Bushnell IL, Bill Pestle (Donna Pestle) of Macomb IL, and sister Diana Barkow (Jeremiah Barkow) of Blandinsville IL, her special cousin Patty Lewis (Lonnie Lewis) of Abingdon IL.
Cremation rites have been accorded. A visitation will be held on Friday, June 26th, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Clugston- Tibbitts Funeral Home in Macomb.
Memorial contributions may be made to Linda’s fund which was created in October 2008, to support women and their family diagnosed with breast cancer, through McDonough District Hospital.
You may leave condolences and sign the guest book online at clugston-tibbitts.com.
