“As my dad used to say, you can take the girl out of the prairie, but you can’t take the prairie out of the girl,” said Carol Lilley, daughter of Barbara Henkels
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Independent Women Features (IW Features), the grassroots storytelling and original journalism arm of Independent Women, released the fifth profile in its Champion Women series honoring the late Barbara Henkels, a devout Catholic and fierce advocate for education.
Henkels, who died on May 5, 2025, at the age of 93, was 71 years old when she and her late husband of 51 years, Paul Henkels, opened the Regina Coeli Academy in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, in 2003. “She’d raised her 10 kids and she was still healthy,” Paul Henkels Jr., one of Barbara’s sons, told IW Features. “She had things to do and she had things she wanted to do and things she believed in, and so that was the advent of the schools.”
The Henkels parents were “completely hands-on” when it came to developing their schools, according to Paul, who noted that his mom and dad were involved with everything from hiring teachers and headmasters to working on the school’s curriculum.
“It was a lot of work getting it off the ground, finding teachers, finding a building, trying to make it financially solvent,” said Paul, who is the second child and firstborn son, named for his father. “But as they did it, more people came, more people got interested, and they started other schools.”
Following the success of the Regina Coeli Academy, the Henkels also opened the Regina Angelorum Academy in Ardmore, Pennsylvania; the Regina Luminis Academy in Berwyn, Pennsylvania; and the Regina Academy at St. John the Baptist in Ottsville, Pennsylvania.
[Pictured: Barbara Henkels with Pope John Paul II; Credit: The Henkels Family]
Yet, Barbara, who was born on September 26, 1931, and raised on a cattle ranch in Kansas alongside her five siblings, didn’t grow up Catholic. It wasn’t until she attended Mount Carmel Academy, a prestigious Catholic boarding school in Wichita, Kansas, that she decided to convert, Carol Lilley, one of Barbara’s daughters, told IW Features.
As the saying goes, “Age is but a number,” and Barbara Henkels’ story is proof of that. Barbara’s commitment to the Catholic faith, determination to make a difference, and devotion to her descendants show why she was not only a “Champion Woman” in her family, but also in her community.
Read Barbara Henkels’ profile here: Champion Women: From a Cattle Ranch to the Catholic Church, Barbara Henkels’ Legacy Lives On
Amber Schwartz, executive vice president of Independent Women, said: “As a Catholic convert myself, I regard Barbara Henkels as a true personal hero. Listening to the heartfelt stories shared by her children and grandchildren has deeply inspired me to remain steadfast on the path God has laid before me. It is a profound honor to celebrate her remarkable legacy—both as a devoted mother and a powerful presence in the world of education, among many other accomplishments. Her story is one that will continue to resonate and endure for generations to come.”
“It is a true honor to feature Barbara Henkels’ incredible story highlighting her devotion to her family, her community, and her faith throughout her life,” said Samantha Aschieris, senior contributor for Independent Women Features and producer of the Champion Women series. “It is evident that Barbara made a lasting impact that will never be forgotten.”
IW Features’ Champion Women series showcases the remarkable women who make up the fabric of America. These are women who inspire generations, give back to their communities, seek change for good, reach new heights, break barriers, tell the truth, care for their families, and believe in what they do.
See more Champion Women profiles below:
- Champion Women: From the Courtroom to the White House: May Mailman’s Journey to ‘the Center of the Universe’
- Champion Women: Why Medical Pioneer Cynthia Fisher is Fighting Her Own Industry
- Champion Women: Charlotte Hays’ Incredible Career and Contributions to Independent Women
- Champion Women: Why Music Powerhouse Carla Ondrasik Wants You to Stop Trying
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