Barbara E. Geary

LACONIA – Barbara E. Geary, 96, of Union Avenue, Laconia, died Friday, Nov. 25, 2011.

Barbara, the daughter of the late William and Elizabeth (Hurley) Geary, was born Jan. 26, 1915, in Brockton, Mass.

She graduated from Brockton High School and then attended the Chandler Secretarial School in Boston. Barbara was employed by S. Rogers Co. in Boston, and in 1942 began working at United Shoe Machinery Co. in Boston. In 1948, Barbara moved to Washington, D.C. and began working for the U.S. Coast Guard in the enlisted personnel division, where she remained until she was selected and assigned as administrative assistant to the chief of the Office of Personnel in 1955, where she worked for 15 different admirals over the years and received many awards, including the Commandants Award in 1979. Barbara retired from the Coast Guard in 1979 and continued living in and enjoying her retirement in Washington, D.C., until deciding in 2005 to move to New Hampshire to be closer to her family.

Barbara was known for her sense of humor, always having a joke or a story to tell, and her sense of style, never owning a pair or jeans or sneakers in her life – always the lady.

She was predeceased by her parents; her brother and his wife, John F. and M. Hazel Geary; and a nephew, John W. Geary.
Family members include her niece and husband, Lynne and Richard Fournier of Belmont; two grandnieces, Leisa (Fournier) D'Amour and her husband, Gary, of Belmont and Sheri Fournier of Meredith; a grandnephew, Derek Fournier and his wife, Sara, of Dedham, Mass.; and four much-loved great-grandnephews, Jeremy, Andrew, Easton and Colin, who gave her much joy in her later years.

She will be missed greatly by her family and the many friends she made at the Taylor Community and beyond. Rest in Peace, beautiful lady.

There will be no calling hours.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 11 a.m. at St. Andre Bessette Parish at Sacred Heart Church, 291 Union Ave., Laconia.

Burial will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 1 p.m. at the St. Michael Cemetery in Avon, Mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Laconia Salvation Army, 177 Union Ave., Laconia 03246; or to the Disabled American Veterans of New Hampshire, P.O. Box 2051, Dover 03821.

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, is assisting the family with the arrangements.

For more information and to view an online memorial go to wilkinsonbeane.com.