Barbara Monson

Barbara Ann Monson received her angel’s wings on August 17, 2022.  She was born on July 25, 1942 in Worcester MA to the late Frank and Xenia Polissack.  “Barb,” as she was affectionately called, was a Horace Mann scholar, graduating early from South High School.  After attending Worcester State Teachers College, she married her high school sweetheart, William “Bill” Monson, a Coast Guard Academy graduate. After being stationed in Alaska, Florida, California, and Massachusetts, the couple ended up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast with their six children where they resided for the remainder of their fifty-nine year marriage. Barb was the original soccer mom and team mother.  She wouldn’t miss a game, school program or award ceremony for her children and, later, her grandchildren. A sports enthusiast throughout her lifetime, if she wasn’t attending a game, she was watching one. A faithful “blue shirt” member of the St. Vincent De Paul Society, Barb was a tireless volunteer to her community. She served as a eucharistic minister for many years at St. Thomas Catholic Church, where she was a faithful parishioner for over fifty years. Barb was one of a kind. Her capacity to love was endless. To know Barb was to love Barb and she will be greatly missed by family and friends.

Barb was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Richard Polissack and her beloved daughter Pam. She is survived by her husband, William “Bill” Monson, her children, Patti (Scott) Simpson, Mike (Kristi) Monson, Kevin (KK) Monson, Missy (Jason) McLaughlin, and Kirsten (Sam) Owen.  She is also survived by her grandchildren Sarah Simpson, Andrew Monson, Nicholas Monson, Patrick Monson, Katherine Monson, Ethan Monson, Matthew Monson, Madeleine Monson, Jonah Monson, Lindsey McLaughlin, Myla McLaughlin, Thomas Owen, Christopher Owen, Michael Owen, and Matthew Owen.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the St. Vincent De Paul Society and all of their extended family and friends for their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Visitation will be on Friday, August 26, 2022, from 9 - 10:30 am at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 720 E Beach Blvd, Long Beach.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 am in the church.  Interment will be in Biloxi National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the St. Vincent De Paul Society (SVPD), St. Thomas the Apostle, 712 East Beach Blvd, Long Beach MS 39560 in Barb’s honor.

Riemann Family Funeral Home, Long Beach, is serving the family.  An online obituary may be viewed and memories shared at www.riemannfamily.com