Marilyn A. Barba

MOULTONBOROUGH -- Marilyn A. Barba, 61, of Shirley Way, Mirror Lake, died Nov. 5, 2009, at Catholic Medical Center, Manchester.

She was born Jan. 29, 1948, in Needham, Mass., to Raymond and Lottie (Bleakney) Barba.

She graduated from Newton Wellesley School of Nursing in Newton, Mass. She later earned her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Boston College and in 1994 completed her master's degree in nursing from the University of New Hampshire.

While continuing her education, Marilyn worked as an operating room staff nurse at the Newton-Wellesley Hospital from 1970 to 1973 at which point she became the Operating Room-Recovery Room Educator at the New England Medical Center, Boston. In 1976 she was appointed Director of Surgical Services at Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plains, Mass., until 1982.

In 1982, she began working at Huggins Hospital in Wolfeboro, where she worked as staff nurse in the ICU and later became a nursing supervisor and later the Nurse Manager of Surgical Services.

IN HER LIFE: For 10 years she served as executive director of the Visiting Nurse Association-Hospice of Southern Carroll County & Vicinity, Wolfeboro, and for the past two years she worked as an RN supervisor at the Mountain View Nursing Home in Ossipee.

She devoted her life to her career of nursing and has also served as secretary of the Huggins Hospital board of directors and worked as independent business owner with EcoQuest International.

She made friends easily and was known by everyone as someone who would rather give than receive. Providing "Tender Loving Care" came naturally to her. She was born to be a nurse. She lived with and took care of both her parents after they moved to their beautiful retirement home on Lake Winnipesaukee at Sawyer's Point. She wisely waited until her good-natured father was a widower, however, before she purchased her first Harley-Davidson motorcycle and brought a pet cat into her home. For years, she practiced weightlifting at the Galaxy Gym and competed in regional competitions, winning first place honors in her class.

She is survived by her brother, Stephen P. Barba and his wife, Gail, of Concord; a niece, Laura Barba of Worcester, Mass.; a nephew, Douglas Barba of Pittsford, Vt.; and numerous cousins.

SERVICES: There will be no calling hours. A memorial Mass will be celebrated Saturday at 1 p.m. at St. Joseph Church, 23 Moultonville Road, Center Ossipee. A reception of family and friends will follow the services in St. Joseph Church Parish Hall. Interment will be in Needham Cemetery, Needham, Mass., at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to Mountain View Nursing Home, 10 County Farm Road, Ossipee 03864.

Lord Funeral Home, Wolfeboro and Center Ossipee, is in charge of arrangements.