Barbara A. Willett

Ms.Willett was a truly great person. We loved her a lot and will miss her deeply. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family in this time of need.

Ellen and I were so saddend to hear the news of Barb and Mary's death. Barb was a very talented and dedicated music educator and musician. I had the extreme pleasure of working with Barb at Whitehall High. In the short time that she was there, I grew to know a gentle person with so many different interests from music to antiquing. She and Mary graciously opened their home to me on a few occasions before our concerts and Barb and Mary's personalities filled the house. It was grand! Ellen and I...

My heart just broke when I heard the news that Barb and Mary would not get to enjoy their new adventure together. I am thankful for the joy and love they brought to all of us who worked with or played with them. Let us think of them whenever we hear the joyful sound of young voices... their influence, love and joy being multiplied and spread forever through music.

Barb, your patience, hard work, inspired musicianship, and good humor were 'instrumental' to the success of the Lake Region musicals we played. Being in 'the pit' was never 'the pits' with you there. Lunch at the Candlepin on teacher in-service days--you never ordered the tapioca!--won't be the same without you, but I'll forward your regards to Nova Scotia and listen to some live Celtic music the next time I'm there. Peace be with you, Barb.

I had the joy of working with Barb on our school musicals for many years. She spent so many hours - countless, really - at rehearsals, and had a great talent for teaching our cast (many of whom had never sung on stage in their life!) how to 'open up their voice'. We all counted on her knowledge, talent and enthusiasm - our shows would never have been the successes they have been without her at the piano.
Keep music in your heart, Barb, now and forevermore...

Barb was a collegue and my son's music teacher. She was a wonderful teacher and my son learned to appreciate music at a different level with her as a teacher. They recently had their music concert and he sang the yellow submarine. His comment to her was that he didn't think the kids in his third grade class really appreciated the Beatles the way that they did.

I taught with Barb at the Brownington Central School. Her love of children and passion for music were always very apparent and the children responded accordingly. Barb is adding her angelic voice to the heavenly host. My deepest sympathies as your family goes through this incredibly challenging time.

It was such a shock to hear about Barb and her mom, and my wishes and thoughts of peace and comfort go to you. Just as she was starting this new chapter of her life, and was so excited about it; it is just so hard to believe. I teach at Irasburg School, and so appreciated Barb's talents and love of music and her enjoyment of the kids she taught. I always was trying to get her to come to a shape note sing, but she was always so busy with her own musical pursuits, we could never find a time...

May I express my sympathy for your loss, Barb was such a special woman and teacher. I certainly enjoyed our visits and exchange of ideas, as a fellow teacher there was a mutual respect and admiration. This news was so heart wrenching when I received it, for our last conversation before the school year ended, was about how she was so looking forward to this new adventure. Instead, she is an angel watching over all of us. I for one will keep her life story as I know it being told. God Bless...