Published December 20, 2019
MELROSE — Carol M. Barry, 86, passed peacefully on saturday morning, December 14, 2019 knowing how much she was loved.
Her life began on Lebanon St. Melrose on March 26, 1933. Born to Alice (Aucoin-Poirier) and Charles Leon Rackliffe and shared her life with her older siblings, Esther, Kay (Katherine) and Charles who all predeceased her. While her father passed when she was only eight years old, Carol continued to go to school at St. Mary’s and graduated from there. She was a student at the N.E. Conservatory of Music in Boston where she excelled in voice, piano, organ and violin. She thought that was her calling (hahahaha!).
She was also working as a secretary for New England Telephone in Boston where she met Albert Charles Barry. Her real calling was as a wife, mother, nana, aunt and friend. She and Al were married Feb. 11, 1956 and settled in Melrose for most of their married life on Elm Street (with the exception of two work-related moves to Hudson and Worcester in the 1960’s). Carol was the “everpresent” stay at home mum to Donna Marie Barry, Maureen Barry of Billerica, Kevin (Diane) Barry of Billerica and Timothy Barry of Wakefield. She was the cherished “nana” to Christopher Barry and his fiancé (Rachael) of Salem, Lauren (Fitzpatrick) Newman and her husband Colby of Grosse Pointe, Mich., and Michael Barry of Billerica. She also was “great nana” to Hudson Newman. She also had two special girls that she considered her “daughters from different parents”: Patti (Behrle) Carrierre of Wakefield and Anne (Henry) Giddings of North Reading; and her daughter-in-law Diane (Carroll) Barry who was always there for her no matter what. She also leaves a host of close friends.
Carol lived a chaotic, busy life, but always knew everything that was going on. She was on a first name basis with every teacher and principal in the schools (that is not necessarily the way she wanted it to be) and she had list after list after list of things to do right next to that phone of hers.
Her religion and family came first. Christmas and birthdays were always over the top. She would sing and play the organ at various weddings, funerals and even a Batmitvah. She liked to needlepoint and later on tried her hand at oil and watercolor painting, as well as ceramics. She quietly and selflessly helped many friends, family and total strangers with any with rides, emotional or monetary support. The last couple of months of her life she championed the cause of homeless vets in honor of her dad who made military boots for United Shoe, and also homeless people that needed a hand.
She adored her nieces and nephews: Junie (Turner) McIntyre of Calif., Barbara (Turner) (Emmith) and her husband William Emmith of Newburyport, Albert Turner and his wife Charlotte of Conn. and the late Gary Turner and Charles and (Edie) Rackliffe. All her great-nieces and nephews: Suzie MmIintyre of Calif., Suzanne (Suzie Rackliffe) Bullerwell and her husband Ben of Laconia, Kristina (Krissie Rackliffe) Laurendeau of Laconia, David (Maria) Emmith of Va, Kathy (Emmith) Webber of Texas, Mark (Karen) Emmith of Byfield, Christine (Emmith) Brown and her husband Dan of Newbury, Diane (Emmith) Maguire and her husband Jeff of Newburyport, Russell (Diane) Turner of Conn., Cheryl (Turner) Rappolt and her husband Chris of Florida, Marie (Wedge) Horgan and her husband Steve of Chelsea and Denise (Wedge) of Prince Edward Island, Canada, and all of her great-great-nieces and nephews and great- great-great-nieces and nephews of which there are too many to list.
Carol’s final act of giving was to donate her body to Harvard Medical School. She wanted cures found for arthritis, lupus, diabetes, and anything else. She also wanted a cure for world peace and kindness, but she was hopeful to the end it would happen. because of the nature of where she is currently resting, funeral arrangements cannot be made. She will be interred with her beloved husband of 37 years at Wyoming Cemetary in Melrose. (She was so on top of everything that her name has been on the stone for 25 years).
The Barry family wishes to thank the staff and residents of the Residence at Pearl Street, Reading (formerly the Longwood Retirement home) for all the years of smiles, laughter, care and friendship. They also wish to thank the staff at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital ICU and the 4th floor medical unit/hospice for their care, support and love they showed her.
If you wish to make a donation in Carol’s memory choose whatever one is close to your heart; or maybe extend a handshake, smile or hug to someone because you never know who may really need one. and now Carol, you are playing for the most heavenly orchestra in the universe; free of pain and with God and our dad, getting your lists ready for all the angels and saints. Play that organ and piano so we can hear it down here, and sing to your heart’s content. We love you, miss you and are so grateful to have had you for the time we did.
Arrangements by Gately Funeral Home, Melrose. To send a message of condolence please visit www.gatelyfh.com
