Barbara Jo (Sendry) Turiak, 70, of Vandergrift, passed away on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.

A daughter of the late Ernest E. Sendry and Betty Ruth (Roberts) Sendry, she was born May 26, 1953 in Natrona Heights, PA.

Barbara received her undergraduate degree at Clarion University and her Master’s degree from I.U.P.  She had been employed as a reading specialist at Leechburg Area High School for 35 years before retiring in 2008.  She was of the Presbyterian faith and a member of the local and state P.S.E.A.  Barbara served as the former mayor of Vandergrift for four years becoming the first woman mayor.  She was an avid Penguins/Steelers fan who enjoyed traveling, going to the casino, watching the cooking channel, and spending time with her cat, Qvist.

Survivors include her mother of Apollo; two sisters, Carol A. King (Peter) of Leechburg, Mary Beth Wolfe of Lewistown; a nephew, Aaron R. Wolfe (Samantha) of Fleetwood; a great-niece, Avery Lynn Wolfe of Fleetwood; and numerous cousins.

Friends will be welcomed by her family on Thursday, July 13, 2023, from 4-6 p.m. at the Clawson Funeral & Cremation Center, 170 Main St., Leechburg, 724-842-1051, immediately followed by a memorial service at 6 p.m. with Pastor Sue Washburn officiating.  Private interment will be held at Greenwood Memorial Park in Lower Burrell.  In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Barbara may be made to the Leechburg Food Bank (P.A.T.H.), PO Box 127, Leechburg, PA 15656.