Barbara Marie Fortier Tirrell

Barbara Marie Fortier Tirrell East Bridgewater Barbara Marie Fortier Tirrell, of East Bridgewater, died at home Saturday, Oct. 27, following a lengthy illness. She was the wife of Richard Wesley Tirrell for 52 years. She was born 76 years ago in Chelsea, Ma, the daughter of the late Carmella and Joseph Fortier. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her mother-in-law Eileen; siblings Marguerite, Virginia and Paul; children Richard, Linda, Lorraine, Michael and Sandra; grandchildren Aviva, Leila, Lisa, Shayna, Cari, Zachary and Anthony; great-grandchildren, Sydney, Naftali, Ryleight and Yeshara. Her granddaughter, Tina passed away a year ago. She graduated from Brockton High school in 1949 and received a B.A. from Bridgewater State Teachers College in 1953. She taught in the Brockton school system for a few years and the Hanson school system for the remainder of her career, where she served as a classroom teacher, Principal of the L.Z. Thomas school, and an art teacher until she retired in 1994. She was loved by her students and instilled in them a desire to learn (or else!). A trip in 1974 to a Native American Studies course in Minnesota sparked a lifelong love of travel, with trips to many places in the United States, the most memorable being Alaska, Missouri, Florida, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, Texas, Louisiana and Washington, D.C. She also visited many other countries including Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Israel, Egypt, Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. She was a member of the Teacher's Association for her entire career. After retiring she became very active in the community and was involved in the Retired Educators Association of Massachusetts, Friends of the Library (East Bridgewater), and served as President of the Women's Club of East Bridgewater for many, many, many years. She was an avid reader, having come in second in a secret contest held at the library for the most books checked out in a one year period." You would always find her in the Mystery section. She was an actress in many plays and loved to play the villain, with especially memorable roles as the High Troll of Goblin Glen and Marley's Ghost in A Christmas Carol. In younger days she was a Girl Scout leader, a cheerleading coach and loved to go camping. She was a sports fan and loved the New England Patriots (Go Pats!) and the Boston Red Sox (Go Sox!) She was smart, kind and generous, a wonderful and involved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, daughter and friend. She was dearly loved by all who knew her and her memory will remain in our hearts forever. A gathering will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 30, from 5-9 p.m. with a memorial service beginning at 6 p.m. at the East Bridgewater Commercial Club, 1 Nielsen Ave (Water St), East Bridgewater, MA. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either the East Bridgewater Women's Club or Friends of the Library, either can be sent in care of: The East Bridgewater Public Library, 32 Union St., East Bridgewater, MA 02333. Arrangement by the Wales-Prophett Funeral Home, East Bridgewater.