Homemaker devoted to her family
Published in the December 7, 2016 edition
NORTH READING — Barbara Kathleen (Durkin) Doherty, 83, of North Reading, passed away peacefully following a brief illness at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers on November 29, 2016.
Born in Boston on August 7, 1933, she was the loving daughter of the late Joseph P. and Catherine (Naughton) Durkin. Raised in Somerville, she was a graduate of Saint Clement’s High School in Medford, Class of 1951.
After high school, she went to work for the New England Telephone Co. in Boston. She then met the love of her life, John P. “Jack” Doherty of Charlestown and they were married on June 21, 1958 at Saint Benedict’s Church in Somerville. Together, Barbara and Jack raised five children and shared nearly 38 years of marriage until his passing in 1996. They moved their family from Somerville to North Reading over 40 years ago.
Barbara enjoyed candlepin bowling as a member of both the parish ladies’ league in Somerville and the Sunday Night Couples League at Candlewood Lanes in North Reading. She won many bowling trophies over the years. In her younger years, Barbara enjoyed crocheting, gardening and family trips to the beach. She and her husband made elegant dancing partners, gliding across the dance floor at weddings, holiday parties and family “times.”
Barbara and Jack also enjoyed traveling to the mountains of New Hampshire and the coast of Maine and taking rides on their friend Lou’s boat in Boston Harbor and along the Charles River Esplanade. They made a memorable trip of a lifetime to Ireland to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary.
She had a sharp mind, a keen wit, and enjoyed a good joke and her “word seek” puzzle books. Most of all, she was devoted to her family and ensuring their happiness was her life’s work. She was especially proud of her grandchildren and great-granddaughter.
Barbara is survived by her five beloved children, Maryann Garbarino and her husband Richard of New Hampshire; William T. Doherty of New Hampshire; James R. Doherty and his wife Susan of Virginia; Jeanne M. Dixon and her husband Daniel of North Reading; and Maureen G. Doherty of Reading, a reporter at the Villager.
She is also survived by seven loving grandchildren, Kathleen M. Garbarino and her fiance Nick Bennett of New York; Christine L. (Garbarino) Roth and her husband Capt. Stephen Roth of Texas; Madeleine J. Doherty and Julia E. Doherty of Virginia; Steven J. Dixon of Malden; and Thomas F. Dixon and Samantha D. Dixon of North Reading; and a very special great-granddaughter, Caroline Roth.
Barbara was the beloved sister of the late Mary (Mae), Joseph, Bernard and Paul Durkin and was predeceased by a son, John P. Doherty Jr., who died in infancy. She was also the sister-in-law of the late Kathleen (Moore) Durkin, Joseph and Peggy (Birmingham) Doherty, and Theodore Doherty.
She is additionally survived by her sisters-in-law Loretta (Doherty) Durkin of Maryland, Anne (Doherty) Richardson and her husband Fred of Pembroke, and Margaret (Hickey) Doherty and Mary (Vesey) Doherty of Charlestown; her brothers-in-law Richard Doherty and his wife Mary (O’Donnell) Doherty of Charlestown, and Norman Doherty of Charlestown, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews.
Family and friends are warmly invited to pay their respects to Barbara during a visitation and memorial service at the Cota Funeral Home, 335 Park St. (Route 28), North Reading on Saturday, December 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Interment immediately following at Riverside Cemetery, North Reading.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in Barbara’s memory to the Kaplan Family Hospice House, ℅ CareDimensions, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers MA 01923 or to the charity of one’s choice.
For online guestbook and directions, please visit www.CotaFuneralHomes.com.
