Barbara A. Bartley, 86, of Derby, VT, passed away peacefully September 23, 2023 at her son Jim’s home surrounded by her family. She was born December 26, 1936 to Anna (Kelly) and Sylvester McCann in Manchester, CT. Barbara graduated from Manchester High School in 1954 and from Bay Path College in 1958 earning her B.A. in Executive Business. Barbara was married to Winston Bartley Sr. on September 7, 1957.
Leaving Connecticut after being married they headed to Cleveland, Ohio, where Winston worked as a Salesman and Barbara being a stay-at-home mother after her first born in 1959. Winston and Barbara went on to have three more children, Winston Jr., Elizabeth and Jamie. Winston and Barbara did not like to be separated since they had four children that she had to manage on her own. Since Barb had a degree as a business executive and Winston having a MA in Economics, they looked into owning their own business where they could work together. Along came a McDonald’s in Derby, Vermont that they offered Winston to build, they packed up the kids and off to Vermont they moved. Barbara went through a culture shock when all she saw was vast cornfields, instead of malls and store lined streets. Barbara did the bookkeeping while Winston ran the restaurants, and after purchasing 5 more McDonald’s, Barb took a step back and hired a bookkeeper to help her keep up.
Barbara took great pride in all of her flower beds, working endlessly to make the, beautiful and perfect.
Barbara loved to cook and was excellent at it. The grandchildren always had decorated cookies for every holiday to bring to their fellow classmates. She worked endlessly at St. Edward’s kitchen, cooking for funerals, bazaars, any other functions held at the hall. Barbara had the best time delivering dinner to all the priests at St. Mary’s parish, they would be waiting at the door for they were so excited to see what the menu was.
Barbara loved to do crafts and they were all beautiful with lots of thought being out into them. The church bazaar would end and she started working right away for the next one. In between working on her crafts, she made quilts for each one of her children and grandchildren, putting in lots of love.
Barbara was a very devoted Catholic becoming a Eucharist Minister, no matter what the weather was, she always made sure to bring communion to the sick and the shut ins. Barbara was loving called Saint Barbara for she went to church seven days a week, and was willing to help with anything the church needed.
Summertime, besides working in her flower gardens, you could find her at the antique auctions all over the state of Vermont. The antiques she collected furnished all four kid’s homes. Barbara made many friends at these auctions and had so much fun, usually she would be the last one bidding and got her deals.
Barbara did so much for the City of Newport, working at the Chamber of Commerce, to making a winter wonderland out if the ice-skating shack at Gardner Park. There were endless hours turning the shack into Santa’s House. The children were welcomed with hot chocolate and a gift. Barbara played Mrs. Clause and Vern Barry played Santa, and they both loved it and had lots of laughs. Christmas was a special time for her, from cooking huge meals, lots of baking and spending endless hours shopping for a special gift for her children and grandchildren with lots of love and thought going into each gift.
Barbara was loved by so many with her smile, laugh and a brilliant sense of humor. She so loved her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. After talking to her you walked away smiling or laughing, she had a way to spread some cheer. Barbara was a kind soul, but sometimes you would have to watch that Irish Catholic temper when she didn’t agree.
Barbara is survived by her son Brian of Derby, son Winston Jr and wife Tammy, daughter Elizabeth of Derby, son James and wife Denise of Derby, grandchildren Travis, Logan, Drew, Austin, Meagan, Alyssa, Matthew, Brooke, Bailey, Alexis and Spencer, great grandchildren Madison, Colton, Denver, Carver, Paislee, Paul and Henry.
Barabra is also survived by her sister Allison Averill of California and also by several nieces and nephews too many to count.
Barbara was predeceased by her loving husband Winton Sr., her parents Anna and Sylvester McCann and grandson Ronald Kennedy.
The family would like to thank Dr. Malk for all the care and compassion shown to our mother, and to her son James and his wife Denise for letting us care for mom in their home, a place where we would congregate in large numbers.
Friends may call from 6:00-8:00 P.M. on Wednesday September 27, 2023 at the Curtis-Britch & Bouffard Funeral Home, 4670 Darling Hill Road, Derby. A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday September 28, 2023 at St. Edward’s Catholic Church, Derby Line with father Rijo Johnson celebrating a mass of Christian burial. Interment will follow at St. Edward’s Catholic Cemetery in Derby Line. Memorial contributions in Barbara’s name may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 3105, or The Mary Wright Halo Foundation, 1073 Upper Quarry Road, Newport, VT 05855. Online condolences may be made at curtis-britch.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Curtis-Britch & Bouffard Funeral Home & Cremation Service, locally family owned and operated.
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