BARBARA ISELIN SEARS

SEARS, Barbara Iselin Loving Mother Age 100, died peacefully at her home in Hamilton, MA, on August 19, 2022. Described by her friends and family as loving, kind, faithful and generous, Barbara leaves behind a wonderful legacy and will be remembered for her undying, Christian faith and as a strong and loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. As one friend stated, Barbara "had a lot of time here, but she needed it to do all the work that she felt blessed to do." Born in Pittsburgh, PA, Barbara moved to Middleburg, VA, shortly thereafter, where her father, C. Oliver Iselin, Jr. and her mother, Elizabeth (Brown) Iselin built their family home. Barbara grew up surrounded with a menagerie of animals and she and her older sister, Nancy, would often ride their ponies to The Hill School in Middleburg, a school their mother co-founded. From there she graduated from Foxcroft School in Middleburg, VA, in 1939 and went onto to attend Sarah Lawrence College, NY. Barbara's life following college led her into the midst of WWII, where she was a staff assistant to General William J. Donovan, the head of the OSS. She accompanied him to Paris after its liberation from Nazi Germany, and from there to the Nuremberg Trials in 1945. Upon returning to the United States, Barbara met and married Francis P. Sears, Jr. of Boston in 1946, who predeceased her in 2004. They made their home in Hamilton until the time of her death. Barbara was an avid horsewoman and loved to foxhunt, often driving her horse van from Hamilton to her family home in Virginia every year. She finally decided, at age 80, to give up the sport, but continued to ride her favorite horse, Nelson Reilly, until she was 90. Her athletic prowess extended into her love of skiing, where she took her family on numerous ski trips and ventured to the Alps with her girlfriends. She was also an excellent tennis player, entering many club tournaments, but she most enjoyed the numerous family "tennis battles" on her own court or wherever a family gathering might take place. Barbara learned many of her life's lessons while at Foxcroft School. Her love and admiration for Miss Charlotte Nolan, the head of school, carried her through future challenges and crises. Barbara was quoted as saying, "Miss Charlotte always said that anything could be accomplished with an understanding heart", something that she aspired to live by. Over the years Barbara immersed herself in volunteerism. When she wasn't running a Bloodmobile blood drive, she was hosting a Jack Russell dog competition to benefit Hospice of the North Shore. She baked cookies for the elderly, delivered Meals on Wheels and read to children in the local public school. But overall, her true calling was her love of God and her found passion for the various church ministries. Long time friend, Rev. Simon Barnes recalled Barbara "was an anchor to the north, someone who I always knew was there if needed. She was always a great encourager (and sometimes a critic!) and her energy and joy in life was an inspiration." Beyond Barbara's faith and volunteerism, her true love was her family and often that meant planning various trips far and wide. Some of her best memories included a two-week pack horse trip to New Zealand. multi-generational summer trips to Red Rock Ranch in Wyoming and cruising in Alaska. A Christmas vacation to Costa Rica where she went white water rafting in her 80's, was merely, in her words, "another adventure". Barbara is survived by her three children, Francis P. Sears, III (Philip) and his wife, Suzanne H., of Hamilton, Thomas M. Sears of Hamilton and Nancy S. Randall and her husband, Jeffrey L., of Edgartown, MA; her grandchildren, Matthew W. Sears, Alexander H. Sears, Lucy Archibald, and Sally Randall, and her great-grandchildren, Georgia and Sawyer Archibald. She was preceded in death by her sister, Nancy I. Marburg and her brother, C. Oliver Iselin, III. The family would like to thank and recognize the loving, caregiving team that were by Barbara's side over the past six years and the support from Care Dimensions over the past year. Special thanks to Darrell Smith, Carmen Caniero and Andrea Hoosick who were in her service for more than 20 years. A Memorial Service will be held at Christ Church in South Hamilton, MA, on October 6, 2022, at 10:30am with a reception to follow at The Myopia Hunt Club in Hamilton. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Barbara's name to Care Dimensions at www.caredimensions.org, Focus on the Family at www.infocus.org or Foxcroft School at www.foxcroft.org Arrangements by the Campbell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot Street, BEVERELYeverly. Infromation, directions, condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com