Barbara Jean Garvey, 77, of Sun Prairie passed away on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison.

Barbara was born on February 12, 1949 in Kankakee, Illinois to Thomas and Corinne (Bertrand) Cavender. The youngest of five children, she loved learning and was the first in her family to go to college, eventually earning a Master's degree in Child Development. After operating a daycare center out of her home while raising her own children, she went back to school to learn about the rapidly developing world of computers and information technology. She worked many jobs after that, from the USDA Farm Service Agency to insurance underwriting, but never lost her joy of learning new and interesting things.

She enjoyed reading, watching PBS, doing puzzles (both pencil and jigsaw), and talking a mile a minute with family and friends.

Barbara is survived by her daughters, Heather Garvey and Diane McDonald, her granddaughter Gracie, and her siblings Jean Miller, Patricia Karasiewicz, and Napoleon Cavender.

At Barbara’s request, no formal services are being arranged.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

1310 Emerald Terrace, Sun Prairie

(608) 837-9054