Maryrita (Barclay) Urbish

April 20, 1926 - February 19, 2014 Mary Rita (Barclay) Urbish, 87, died peacefully at home on February 19, 2014, with her husband of 55 years by her side. Mary Rita was born April 20, 1926, in El Paso, Illinois, the daughter of Charles Edward Barclay and Florence Dorothea (Haas) Barclay. She moved to Denver in 1946 and worked for Colorado National Bank and Petroleum Information. She was an active member of the St. Thomas University Club, where she met her future husband, Benedict Urbish. Ben and Mary Rita were married on August 23, 1958 at St. John's Catholic Church in Denver and have three daughters: Florence, MaryCarol, and Celeste. Mary Rita's gifts, talents, and interests were wide and varied. She grew up steeped in music: she sang with her family and in the church and school choirs. She played the piano, organ, guitar, ukulele, and clarinet. She was an artist, talented seamstress, nature lover, loved to dance (particularly the jitterbug), and was graced with gift of gab. Her thirst for knowledge led her to investigate almost any topic, just for the sake of learning. At the age of 20, she moved from El Paso to Denver with her sister, Kathleen. On the train from Chicago to St. Louis, the young women were told they could choose a seat in any car. When they were seated, the conductor told them they couldn't sit in that car; they would have to choose another. The two young women from rural Illinois, who had been taught everyone is created in God's image and likeness, could not understand the concept of segregation. They chose another seat out of respect for the conductor, but continued to discuss the situation. When they arrived in St. Louis to change trains, and walked into the train station, they were confronted with two drinking fountains: one labeled “WHITE” and the other “COLORED.” Mary Rita walked purposefully up to the “COLORED” fountain and took a long drink. She decided her parents had taught her the truth and she would not obey an unjust law. The conviction to live according to objective Truth was the foundation of her life. Once in Colorado, she learned to ski and enjoyed mountain trips in any season. She played the organ and sang for daily Mass at St. John's and taught catechism to migrant children in Ft. Lupton. She was civically involved, as part of the Democratic Party, League of Women Voters, and Colorado Association of Parliamentarians. She was a founding member of the Virginia Village Homeowners Association and served on the Board for many years. Mary Rita was a tireless advocate for the protection of all innocent, defenseless human life, from conception to natural death. She co-founded Colorado Joint Council on Social and Medical Legislation (1966); Colorado Right to Life Committee (1967); was instrumental in opening Birthright, the first crisis pregnancy center in Colorado; formed the Republican Pro-Life Caucus; and served on the Board of the Margaret Castello Memorial Pro-Life Scholarship Fund. She served as the Colorado Director of National Right to Life Committee, and was a featured speaker at the annual National March for Life in Washington, D.C. She is survived by her husband, Benedict F. Urbish, daughters Florence (Scott) Sebern, Marycarol (Keith) Liddle, and Celeste (Dan) Orr; grandchildren, Erin, Colin, and Brendan Sebern, Dustin Liddle (Larry) Moulton, Carla Liddle (Justin) Minnich, Michelle Liddle, Rachel and Stephanie Orr, Kevin and Kyle Schulte; great-grandchildren Dylan Minnich, Paige and Larry Moulton III; numerous beloved nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Florence Barclay; her sisters, Margaret Barclay Kearney Donahue and Kathleen Barclay Kendrat; grandson Ian Sebern. Funeral Mass Monday, February 24th, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 4900 E. Montview Blvd., 10 a.m.; rosary and visitation at 9:30 a.m., preceding Mass. Funeral will conclude at the church; reception following in Campbell Hall. Arrangements through Malesich and Shirey Funeral Home, 5701 E. Independence St., Arvada, CO 80002. Memorial contributions suggested to: Birthline Inc. of Colorado, 2346 Gilpin Street, Denver, CO 80205; The Denver Hospice, 501 S. Cherry St. #700, Denver, CO 80246. Mass intentions welcomed and greatly appreciated.