Transforming Challenges into Triumphs Scholarship

Katherine Kylen has established this scholarship in honor of her sister Barbara Jean Stoesser Mengarelli.

Barbara was born in 1953 in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest of four children, having two older sisters and a brother. Her childhood was filled with much happiness and cherished memories of family life, including music and piano lessons, playing make-believe and dress up, playing cards and lots of board games, along with many childhood friends, as well. For her 6th birthday, she received her original Barbie doll, becoming a life-long playtime favorite that expanded and included her daughter and granddaughter over the years. Barbara’s mother and sisters were elementary education teachers, but Barbara was interested in a somewhat different path. As a teenager, Barbara chose to accompany her oldest sister and Godson nephew, John, to physical and occupational therapy sessions, when possible. John had acquired cerebral palsy due to a brain injury when he was a toddler. Barbara innately possesses a playful spirit and encouraging love for others. In Occupational Therapy, she discovered that using activities that are purposeful, enjoyable and relevant to the individual’s life promotes a sense of accomplishment and well-being. Barbara entered the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and graduated in 1977. During school breaks, she enthusiastically embraced her increasing knowledge and skills and committed much time to John by creating adaptive equipment and joyful experiences with a loving therapeutic touch. She completed her graduate studies at University of Illinois – Chicago Circle Campus in Chicago, Illinois.

Barbara began as a medical practitioner at Clearbrook in Arlington Heights, Illinois, providing occupational therapy services to children and adults impacted by developmental and intellectual disabilities. After several years, she joined Arlington Pediatric Therapy in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and made a difference in hundreds of children’s lives during her 25 years’ tenure as an Occupational Therapist. Now retired, Barbara currently maintains many of the relationships she developed with her fellow therapists, children and their families she felt privileged to work with over her adult lifetime.