Barbara L. Meyers

FUNERAL HOME

Andrew J. Magni & Son Funeral Home

365 Watertown Street, Rt. 16

Newton, Massachusetts

Barbara Meyers Obituary

MEYERS, Barbara L. Of Ashland, formerly of Astoria, NY, died October 24, 2008 at Newton Wellesley Hospital in Newton. She was 55. Daughter of the late Joseph and Margaret (Agosta) Meyers. Sister of Richard Meyers of SC. Also survived by many aunts, uncles & cousins. She was a Manager of Copyediting & Proofreading for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing for 10 years. Barbara previously worked at Brown Publishing Network in Boston. Visiting hours are Saturday 2-4pm & 6-8pm, and Sunday 4-7pm in the Andrew J. Magni & Son F.H., 365 Watertown St, Rt. 16, NEWTON. Funeral Mass Monday at 12 Noon in Our Lady Help of Christians Church, 573 Washington St., Newton. Burial Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 1:30pm in Mount St. Mary Cemetery in Flushing, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations in Barbara's name would be appreciated & may be made to: Vernon Cancer Center, c/o Newton Wellesley Hospital, 2014 Washington St., Newton, MA 02462. www.magnifuneralhome.com

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Published by Boston Globe from Oct. 25 to Oct. 26, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Barbara Meyers

12 Entries

Marita Sullivan

October 31, 2008

I associate Barbara as "the energizing bunny!" I have seen Barbara come through her illnesses with courage, strength, and a positive attitude. I have said good-bye and mourned many a time only to learn Barbara had returned to work and her activities. Many years ago we had a great vacation to the Bahamas. She has her memories of the trip and I have mine! We also had great times at my Cape house with Margaret and Peter Tornabene. Barbara is a testament to putting one foot in front of the other, standing tall, and defying the odds. I will miss her high spirit, her smile, her laugh, and especially her friendship.

Peggy Smith-Herbst

October 29, 2008

In January, I made my first visit to the Houghton Mifflin building following the merger with Harcourt. Barbara was one of the first people to pop into my office to introduce herself. I was immediately impressed by her energy, humor, and spunk. She offered me tips and information about the HM building and shared her company history with me. During every trip to Boston, I would look for Barbara and touch base with her. Barbara represented everything I love about many of the people in our business--intelligence, competence, the ability to connect and communicate with people, and a deep and abiding pride in our work. I am grateful for the short time during which I got to know her, and I will miss her!

Joan Mineau

October 28, 2008

The first time we worked together at Houghton Mifflin was on the handwriting font to use in our spelling books. I loved working with Barbara. I never thanked her enough for all the extras she did for me. I remember literally running into each other, more than once, at the stairwell corner of the 4th floor. No matter how many pressing problems on her desk, she always had a smile to greet you. We will all miss her.

Jennifer Grossetti

October 27, 2008

Barbara's strength was nothing short of amazing. She always wanted to hear about what was new with you -- never wanted to talk about herself for too long. She was battling a terrible illness and yet I never once heard her complain or ask for sympathy. I will always remember her laugh and her smile. She had a genuine, kind spirit and was also very very tough. She was one of a kind and she will be terribly missed.

Sylvia Shocker

October 27, 2008

Barbara was one of the warmest kindest people I've met. Her sense of humor and interest in all of her HM colleagues was an inspiration.
She will be greatly missed.

Nancy Howell

October 26, 2008

I was lucky enough to work for Barb for a time, at Houghton Mifflin. She had such a big heart, and loved to have a good laugh. I will never forget the twinkle in her eye when she was making a joke. And I will never forget her big hugs and slaps on the back. She is one of the strongest people I have met, and will probably ever meet. She will be deeply missed.

Fran Hodgkins

October 26, 2008

Some people make the world better simply by being. Barbara was one of those people. I admired and respected her, at first for the tremendous love and care with which she treated her people and responded to others. Then, after I learned she was ill, for her bravery. She was a treasure.

Barbara, we miss you.

Mark Starling

October 25, 2008

I'm going to miss seeing Barbara walking the halls of Houghton Mifflin, and coming by my office to talk about the Red Sox and Patriots. She was one of the toughest women I've ever known. I will miss her tremedously. She was the best. This world will never be the same.

robin romanelli

October 25, 2008

Hello friends,
Do you suppose she really had a connection to the mob? Barbara made my sides hurt from laughing... so much fun, such a great person, always demonstrating concern for others, and never a complaint! I'm stunned because I never thought she would succumb. I am thankful for all the times her light shined on me. She was a person of great faith. What an asset to God's army in Heaven she will be for she was a true foot soldier during her time on earth.

Mary McClellan

October 25, 2008

Barbara was one of the funniest, sweetest, and most unforgettable people I've ever known. Obviously I wasn't the only person who felt that way, since she had a wide circle of loving friends who looked out for her. I can't believe she's gone. Yo, Barbara! We're going to miss you something fierce, Sweetie. Love, mmm

Sheila Boyle

October 25, 2008

I,too, worked with Barbara at Houghton Mifflin. I am so sad to know that her kind, generous, and irreverent spirit is no longer with us. What a magnificent and courageous person she was. Thank you, Barbara, for hours and hours of high jinx and laughs.
I send my concern and best wishes to her family and to all the friends who adored her.
Sheila
Be at peace, Barbara.

Diane Varone

October 25, 2008

I first met Barbara in 1987 at a publishing industry event. Years later, when she moved to Ashland, I was thrilled to find out that we had a mutual friend who lived across the street in her condo complex. Since that time, we have been great friends.

When a group of us got together, Barbara was the life of the party. We never tired of her Ethel Merman impersonation.

She loved to tease, and I always reciprocated. At Houghton Mifflin, where we both worked, I would go to her office and sometimes find it empty. I’d then leave notes saying “You’re fired – signed Michael Kelley (one of her supervisors).” The first time unnerved her, but of course she caught on. That became the way I would let her know I was looking for her. Coworkers may have thought she disliked me . . . one of her favorite phrases was “I never cared for you.” But of course we all knew otherwise!

When my daughters were young, they knew Barbara as the “Huggy Lady,” always greeting them with the biggest and warmest bear hugs imaginable. She’s seen both of them grow into young ladies, and they both cried with me when they heard Barbara was dying.

My heart is breaking as I’m writing this. Barbara will be truly missed by everyone she knew. She has had so many health issues over the years, but never complained. She was a fighter and an inspiration. She was a loving and remarkable person who made friends with everyone she met.

I am glad she was my friend.

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