Mabel Irene Barton

1928 - 2021

Mabel Irene (Graves) Barton, 92, passed away peacefully Thursday, January 14, 2021 after struggling through a brief illness that followed a lengthy period of declining health.

Mabel was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada on April 21, 1928 to William Murchison and Mabel Gladys (Corney) Graves of New Wiltshire, PEI, Canada. Having tragically lost her mother in childbirth, Mabel was raised with her sister in the rural New Wiltshire area by their beloved grandparents, Mary Ann and Jacob Corney, with their father living nearby. Mabel attended school in a one-room schoolhouse and the entire family worked hard to maintain their self-sufficient farm. In early adulthood, Mabel and her sister remained at home to care for their then aged grandmother until she died in 1950, after which Mabel worked in the local Charlottetown Hospital.

On March 26, 1958, Mabel was admitted to the United States as an immigrant with assistance from her uncle and aunt, Eldon and Madeline Corney of Bow, NH. She worked at Concord Hospital for a period of time before marrying and having two children. After her brief marriage ended, Mabel pulled herself up and single-handedly provided a safe, tidy, and stable home for her children on limited education, in a country foreign to her, and with minimal support beyond her own notable inner strength to face her life's challenges.

Mabel had a "green thumb" and was able to make just about anything grow, loved to fish, enjoyed dancing to maritime fiddle music as a young woman, and was a remarkable story-teller for her children. She was raised in a family of deep and abiding faith, attending church regularly in the New Wiltshire area during her young life, and later seeing that her children regularly attended Sunday School at the First Congregational Church in Concord throughout their childhoods.

Mabel is survived by her daughter, Melanie Dorothy Marie (Barton) Cornell of Concord, NH; her son, Mervin Douglas Barton with his life love, Robyn, former longtime residents of Hawaii, currently of Moultonborough, NH; 2 grandchildren, James Patrick Cornell and Liam Barrett Cornell; and her sister, Dorothy Melinda (Graves) MacNeill who at 94 is still happily living independently in New Dominion, PEI, Canada. Mabel was predeceased by her brother-in-law and Dorothy's husband, John A. MacNeill.

Mabel will be laid to rest at Blossom Hill Cemetery in Concord following private family services. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one's choice. Phaneuf Funeral Homes & Crematorium is assisting the family with arrangements. To view an online memorial or for more information please go to www.phaneuf.net.