Barbara Ann Bannon

NORTHBOROUGH

Barbara Ann Bannon, 91, of Northborough, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on July 16, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. Barbara was born on August 4, 1933, in Leominster, Massachusetts to William and Irene O'Malley (Trimble). She attended St. Bernard's High School in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Class of 1951 and graduated from Anna Maria College, Class of 1955, along with her best friend, Rosemarie Hoskinson. Barbara was married to the late Jack Derby and later to Tom Bannon until Tom's death in 1998.

Barbara was a career educator, teaching at Shrewsbury High School from 1974 to 2001 working mostly in the English Department. While there, she was Class Advisor to several classes and recognized by the Class of 1986, which dedicated their yearbook to her. She loved attending sporting events, cheering on both Shrewsbury High School and Algonquin Regional High School, where her sons played on multiple teams.

Upon retiring in 2001, Barbara spent many years at the family home in Wells Beach, Maine, and traveling to California and West Virginia to spend time with her sons and their families. At home in Northborough, she enjoyed visiting with her many friends and going to the Northborough Senior Center where she attended painting and chair yoga classes. Barbara loved being with her family and friends, to include sitting in the sun and looking at the salt marsh to traveling to Yosemite National Park and the California coast, Hawaii, New Orleans, and Bermuda. But being "home" in Wells Beach is what she cherished the most. It was always Maine where life was good.

Barbara is survived and deeply missed by her sons, David Derby of Yorba Linda, California, Dan Derby of Northborough, Massachusetts, and Bob Derby of Martinsburg, West Virginia; their spouses, Sylvia Derby, Brenda Derby, and Mandy Derby; step-children, Thomas Bannon of Universal City, Texas, Cheryl Lilly of New Orleans, Louisiana, and Michael Bannon of Southboro, Massachusetts; their spouses, Suk Bannon, George Lilly, and Jeanne Bannon; and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, cousins, and extended family and friends.

Visitation will be held on Monday, July 21, from 4-7 p.m. at Hays Funeral Home, 56 Main Street, Northborough, Massachusetts. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Friends of the Northborough Senior Center or Northborough Food Pantry.

A private funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 22.

To leave an online condolence, please visit www.HaysFuneralHome.com.

BARBARA'S FUNERAL EULOGY by her son, Robert

Eulogy for Barbara Ann Bannon

Good evening family members, friends, and welcomed guests,

Thank you all for coming today to honor our mother, especially those who travelled from afar-California, West Virginia, Texas, New Orleans, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire. Your presence means the world to us. At the same time, Barbara would be embarrassed if she thought she inconvenienced any of you or distracted from your plans to be with her. That is, after all, what she was all about. Our mother was always thoughtful of others, often putting your needs before her own, though she wasn't shy about letting you know her wishes or what she wanted you to do-whether you liked it or not.

Today we remember Barbara (aka Ma, Nana, Nan, Barb, Babs) a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, and friend who touched us all. As we mourn her loss, we celebrate a life marked by love, kindness, and strength. She was someone who had an incredible ability to make others feel seen and valued. Whether it was through a thoughtful gesture, a kind word, or simply being there in times of need, she brought light to every conversation she had and every room she entered. Her generosity and warmth made everyone feel valued, and her spirit will continue to inspire us.

Barbara exemplified resilience and determination throughout her life, facing challenges with courage and grace. Her strong character may have roots in her heritage-she was, according to historical records, a 12th-generation descendant of John Prescott, who reportedly came arrived on the Mayflower, and, as family folklore would have it, 41 generations removed from Alfred the Great, of England. What's certain, though, is her deep Irish ancestry from County Mayo, Ireland, home of the O'Malley clan and the famed "Pirate Queen" Grace O'Malley. Barbara's strength showed in all she did, from raising three children and teaching, to battling cancer and caring for loved ones; her perseverance and positive spirit inspired everyone around her.

Barbara was born on August 4, 1933, to William and Irene O'Malley. She grew up in Leominster, Massachusetts, where she often visited her father's local store to enjoy a fountain drink, eat piece of candy, or as suggested, by her father, sneak into the movie theater next door for a weekend matinee (perhaps so he might have a little "taste"). During the summer, she joined her family to go on vacation to Scituate, Massachusetts, where her love of the beach first began. She later attended St. Bernard's High School in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and graduated from Anna Maria College, holding positions as Class Secretary and Vice President alongside her dear friend Rose Marie Hoskinson. Educated by nuns at the Catholic college, she learned at an early age the value of listening to her elders. On one occasion at the conclusion of her junior year, Barbara received a letter from Sister Isabel, encouraging her to attend daily Mass, do her best, and be a leader while, at the same time, admonishing her for being chatty and playing cards in the "smoker" with her "girls."

Barbara was a devoted wife to Tom Bannon for 23 years, living in Northboro with their beloved cat, Chow, and taking trips together to Maine, Rhode Island, and Bermuda. She cherished her Saturday dinners out with Tom and made sure the family was always cared for at home, keeping the fridge stocked, and welcoming her sons' friends to the house where she knew everyone would be safe. While cooking wasn't exactly her forte, her dedication to her family was unmistakable.

But it wasn't just Barbara's strength that stood out-it was her ability to love, deeply and unconditionally. She showed us what it means to be present for the people we care about. She provided a listening ear, offered comfort when needed, and participated in celebrations with others. Her dedication as a career educator is evident in her 27 years at Shrewsbury High School, where she taught English, Greek Mythology, and the literary classics-from Homer to Shakespeare, Dickens, Melville, Hawthorne, Twain, and Hemmingway-and constantly reminded us not to end a sentence with a preposition (as I just did), likely due to her Latin education. She frequently worked with the tough kids who faced challenges in school, and she embraced the challenge with love. But she was very tough herself. It's when things got tough that she shined the most. She maintained a reputation as a respected and dependable employee, colleague, mentor, counsellor, and friend. She loved attending school sporting events, cheering on student athletes at Shrewsbury and Algonquin, where her sons played. Dubbed by a friend as "one of our greatest fan," she saved newspaper clippings during all our sporting events, including our HOF season when our team went 33-1, preserving those memories for years to come.

Barbara valued quality time with her family and friends, often embarking on memorable journeys to California, where she enjoyed visiting Disneyland and Yosemite (with Rose Marie), attending theatre performances, and taking walks to view the "Romeo and Juliet" house often with her favorite escort.

Barbara continued to travel, including a trip with her family to Hawaii where she saw the sunrise on Haleakala (HAH-leh-ah-kah-LAH), went to a luau at Ka anapali (KAH-uh-nuh-PAH-lee) Beach, and had Easter dinner with family in Maui. In the winter, she often visited West Virginia, where she would recite "The Night Before Christmas" for the kids and help them build gingerbread houses. Her travels also took her to Washington, DC, where she was thrilled to visit JFK's gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery and explore the monuments including the Lincoln, Korean, FDR, and World War II memorials. And she was in her glory when she went to New Orleans for a family wedding where she had an experience of a lifetime being treated like a queen.

Barbara enjoyed countless memories of her time in Northboro and Southboro, from hosting numerous holiday gatherings to attending weddings, birthday parties, graduation ceremonies, and many, many Rogers' extravaganzas. While many may know of her famous frosted-covered brownies, few likely know she once picked and prepared 100 quarts of strawberries (equivalent to 2,000 strawberries) in the hot sun, just to support a family wedding. It was in giving that Barbara found the most joy. She was always the first to volunteer her time, offer her support, and share a kind word.

Barbara loved visiting with her friends to enjoy a drink and catch up on town gossip, political news, and world events. She had a love of reading, discussing her favorite novels, and sharing books with friends and family. She could hold her own in any conversation and get her point across without being offensive. Yet she always knew how to throw a jab every now and then, sometimes without being noticed. She often went to the Northboro Senior Center to attend painting and chair yoga classes. She painted scenes of the Coast of Maine, fields of flowers, and country landscapes and would mail them out with words of endearment, encouragement, kindness, and love. She loved sending and receiving greeting cards, especially St. Patrick's day just to wish you "Top of the Morning." Her birthday cards and sons' wedding anniversary cards would always come early (pause). And when she did miss a remembrance, she would apologize profusely and promise the next card would arrive on time.

Through it all, Barbara presented herself with grace and attention to detail, ensuring her attire and accessories-from her jewelry to her clothes and shoes-were precisely coordinated and her hair meticulously styled. Her presence was often preempted by the fragrance of her preferred perfumes (Chanel No. 5 or Paloma Picasso to be exact) or the sound of Tic-Tacs rattling around in her purse. However, her intense focus also seemed to include preparing for the Apocalypse, as she always kept ample supplies of paper towels and assorted staples in the basement and ensured her car's fuel tank never fell before three-quarters full.

In addition to her love for family and friends, Barbara's greatest passion was being in Wells Beach, Maine. It all began by renting summer cottages-first by the week, then by the month-and transitioning to owning a home that became known as "Nanas' Nest." Every year for over 60 years, she would return to Wells Beach during the summer to breathe the sea air, sit on the sandy beach, and bask in the warm sun. Many lobsters, clams, bowls of chowder, and corn on the cob were consumed while sitting on the deck watching the sunset over the salt marsh. She loved everything about Wells and was forever grateful to spend so much time there with family and friends. Being "home" in Wells Beach is what she cherished the most. It was always Maine where life was good. Her passion and love for Wells is something we will carry with us as we remember her, every time we put our toes in the sand.

As we say goodbye, let us not focus only on the sadness of her departure, but on the incredible legacy she leaves behind. The lessons she taught us, the love she shared with us, and the memories we hold dear will live on forever in our hearts. Though we will miss her deeply, we know that Barbara's spirit will always be with us, guiding us, and reminding us to live life with the same kindness, grace, and love she showed every day.

As Barbara would always say, "You do for the living, not for the dead." Our time here is limited, but our time together is endless. And so, please join me in reciting her favorite Irish blessing ("May The Road Rise To Meet You") that reflects her belief of being with you again:

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

the rains fall soft upon your fields

and until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Rest in peace, dearest mother and friend. You will forever by our light and love, and you will never be forgotten.

Thank you for being with us. God bless you all.