Barbara Barry Cattel

Barbara Barry Cattel, 93, of West Hartford, beloved wife of the late Charles J. Cattel, Sr. passed away peacefully on Friday, October 11, 2024, with her loving family by her side. Barbara was born November 5, 1930, in Woonsocket, RI to the late Ovide Barry and Bertha Bressette Barry. She was raised in Webster, MA and graduated from St. Louis High School in 1948 and Salve Regina University in 1952 (in the second graduating class).
Barbara married the love of her life and her brother John's best friend Charlie in 1953. They were married for 67 years. Together they moved to West Hartford in 1954. Her first job was at Capital Motors in Hartford. She then became a stay-at-home mom and raised five wonderful children; each one was her favorite. Once her children were in school, she utilized her business degree working many years at St. Brigid School where her children were alumni. She was a member of the school's home school association, a communicant of St. Brigid Church, a long-term member of the St. Brigid Ladies Guild, an active volunteer in both the church and school, and became a Eucharistic Minister of the church.
Barbara loved to travel with her husband Charlie, her family and friends. She loved spending winters in Florida. Any time a trip discussion came up, it was a family adventure of children, cousins, sisters, brothers, aunts, and uncles because everyone was coming. Her final trip was with St. Brigid Ladies Guild and her family to her ancestral home in Quebec.
Barbara was an avid sports fan, including basketball, baseball and more. She rooted for every Boston area team.
Barbara was proud of her alma mater. She traveled year after year to Salve to visit or for annual reunions with her husband and daughter. Barbara was inspired by many at her reunion, and they even came up to meet her as alumni from the second graduating class. Many thought of her as a pioneer for going to college in a world where many women did not go to college and business was not one of the chosen degrees. The last couple of years she was even found to be on the dance floor with fellow alumni.
Barbara leaves behind her children, Charles Jr. (Mitzy) of Wethersfield, Robert (Vikki) of Englewood, Florida, Mark (Lauren) of Rocky Hill and Christine (John) of West Hartford. She had a special love for her five grandchildren, her five great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and many good friends. Besides her husband, she was predeceased by her son, David as well as her two brothers and sisters-in-law, John (Virginia) and Donald (Ellen) and a sister, Sr. Frances Barry SSJ (aka Sr. Philip John).
Calling hours will be Monday, October 14, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Sheehan Hilborn Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Avenue, West Harford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Brigid Church, 1083 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford followed by burial at Fairview Cemetery, West Harford. To view a livestream of the Mass of Christian Burial, please visit https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/a24109076753777 or click here
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Brigid Church or Salve Regina University at https://salve.edu/give-salve. Online condolences may be made at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com