SPRINGFIELD - Barbara M. (Hurley) Barry, 84, of Springfield died Thursday, March 29, 2012 at Wingate of Hampden. Barbara, a daughter of the late William and Nora (Neylon) Hurley was born in Springfield on December 13, 1927. Raised in Springfield she graduated from Cathedral High School and received her Bachelor's in Education from the College of Our Lady of the Elms and her Master's in Education from Springfield College. Barbara was employed by the Springfield School Department as a teacher and taught at kindergarten and first grade. Barbara moved back to County Clare, Ireland in 1936 and resided there for 3 years. She returned to Springfield and has resided there for most of her life and in Chicopee for 25 years and enjoyed spending winters in Lakeland, FL with her husband William. Barbara was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church and a member of the Catholic Women's Club. Barbara was also a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the Massachusetts Retired Teachers Association, and enjoyed being a member and playing golf at Elmcrest Country Club. She traveled extensively and taught in Aruba. In addition to her parents, Barbara was predeceased by her husband of 32 years, William J. Barry, a daughter, Kathleen Ferriter, a brother, William Hurley, and a sister, Catherine M. Hurley. She is survived by two sons, William J. Barry, Jr. of Hampden and Timothy M. Barry and his wife Debbie of Somers, CT; two daughters, Monica Barry of Leominister, MA and Teresa Miller and her husband Scott of Nashua, NH; a sister, Ita Holman of East Hartford, CT; eight grandchildren, Erin, Brian, Brendan, Jared, Lindsey, Heidi, Heather, and Rebecca; six great grandchildren, Taylor, Mikayla, Logan, Zachary, Caleb, and Annabella; a niece, Cathleen Cianci and her husband John of Bristol, CT; a nephew, William Holman and his companion Peggy of Colchester, CT; grandnieces, Patricia and Christine; great grandnephews, Dustin and Alex. Visiting hours for Barbara will be held on Monday, April 2, 2012, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Sampson's Chapel of the Acres Funeral Home, 21 Tinkham Road, Springfield. Her funeral will be held on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at 8:15 a.m. at the funeral home followed by the Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Mary's Church, 27 Somers, Road, Hampden. Rites of Committal and Interment will follow in the Chapel of the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam. Memorial contributions in Barbara's memory may be made to the College of Our Lady of the Elms, 291 Springfield Street, Chicopee, MA 01013.

[Published in The Republican from March 31 to April 1, 2012]