Obituary for Barbara "Barb" O'Leary (Donahue)
Barbara (Donahue) O’Leary, age 81, a longtime Chelmsford resident, passed away on Friday, December 4, 2020 at Lowell General Hospital with her loving family by her side. She was the beloved wife of the late David L. O’Leary, with whom she shared 52 years of marriage.
She was born on November 25, 1939 in Arlington, MA, and was the daughter of the late Francis R. and Frances J. (Ladd) Donahue.
Barbara was raised in Arlington and was a graduate of Arlington High School Class of 1957. She worked for many years as a hairdresser and an accounting clerk for Purity Supreme and several other local investment firms.
In her spare time, Barbara enjoyed bird watching, being close to the ocean, and trips to Ogunquit, ME and Rye, NH where she cherished time at the beach. Most of all, Barb enjoyed spending time with family. She was a caregiver to her mother and her husband and truly loved helping others. Even her plants were well cared for.
Barbara leaves her children, Caren O’Brien and her husband Michael of Mason, NH and David L. O’Leary, Jr. and his wife, Suzanne of Kingston, MA, nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, her sister Joyce Ziminsky of Nashua, NH, her brother, John Donahue and his wife, Patricia of Hampton, NH, and her daughter-in-law, Karen O’Leary of Chelmsford. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Sadly, she is predeceased by her son, Brian J. O’Leary and her brother Francis Donahue.
Due to gathering limitations, Funeral Services and Interment will be held privately.
You are invited to view Barbara’s Mass of Christian Burial live on Wednesday, December 9, at 11:00 am. Please visit chelmsfordcatholic.org, select LIVEVIEW, then St. Mary LIVEVIEW.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Barbara may be made by check to: TeamWalk for CancerCare, c/o Philanthropy Department, Lowell General Hospital, 295 Varnum Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854.
She was born on November 25, 1939 in Arlington, MA, and was the daughter of the late Francis R. and Frances J. (Ladd) Donahue.
Barbara was raised in Arlington and was a graduate of Arlington High School Class of 1957. She worked for many years as a hairdresser and an accounting clerk for Purity Supreme and several other local investment firms.
In her spare time, Barbara enjoyed bird watching, being close to the ocean, and trips to Ogunquit, ME and Rye, NH where she cherished time at the beach. Most of all, Barb enjoyed spending time with family. She was a caregiver to her mother and her husband and truly loved helping others. Even her plants were well cared for.
Barbara leaves her children, Caren O’Brien and her husband Michael of Mason, NH and David L. O’Leary, Jr. and his wife, Suzanne of Kingston, MA, nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, her sister Joyce Ziminsky of Nashua, NH, her brother, John Donahue and his wife, Patricia of Hampton, NH, and her daughter-in-law, Karen O’Leary of Chelmsford. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Sadly, she is predeceased by her son, Brian J. O’Leary and her brother Francis Donahue.
Due to gathering limitations, Funeral Services and Interment will be held privately.
You are invited to view Barbara’s Mass of Christian Burial live on Wednesday, December 9, at 11:00 am. Please visit chelmsfordcatholic.org, select LIVEVIEW, then St. Mary LIVEVIEW.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Barbara may be made by check to: TeamWalk for CancerCare, c/o Philanthropy Department, Lowell General Hospital, 295 Varnum Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854.