Barbara Ann Crimaldi

Barbara Ann (Benoit) Crimaldi, beloved partner, sister, mother, Nana, and Noni, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family, on October 19th, 2024, at the age of 85. Barbara was a life-long resident of Cambridge and beloved member of the community. Over the years she encountered so many different people with whom she developed many friendships, as she was one of the kindest and most loving humans you could ever meet.
She was born on March 2nd, 1939, in Cambridge, MA to the late Joseph C. and Mary T. (Muskatel) Benoit. Born into a large family on Marcella St in East Cambridge, she was the second of nine children – 7 girls and 2 boys. In 1955, the family moved to Corcoran Park in West Cambridge where she lived until she got married in 1960 to Salvatore Crimaldi Sr. Together, they had three children – Richard, Salvatore Jr. and Maryann – and in 1971 she moved into the last house she would ever live in on Edward T. Sullivan Road. Life then decided to throw a few obstacles at Barbara with a house fire in 1975 and a divorce in 1976, but she managed to overcome them which ultimately helped her find her life partner, Harold Josephson, in 1979. During their time together they would drive up to Gloucester every weekend, where Harold lived, and walk by the Fisherman's Memorial to enjoy the ocean breeze and then enjoy a delicious basket of fried clams for lunch. Harold was by her side through all the ups and downs, the biggest being in 1999 when life threw its biggest obstacle at Barbara, breast cancer. Being a strong and resilient woman, she fought like a warrior and ultimately defeated cancer and celebrated by retiring from Polaroid in 2001. Life once again decided that with the good also comes the bad and dealt some devastating blows to Barbara with the loss of Harold in 2004, her daughter in 2005 and then her mother, the matriarch of the family, in 2006. After the passing of her mother, Barbara became the new matriarch of the family continuing all her mother's time-honored family traditions.
Barbara's greatest pride was her family and she adored spending time with all her relatives, especially at large family gatherings. Specifically, when she hosted her annual Christmas Eve party at her long-time home on Sullivan Road where countless memories were made each year. Barbara's grandchildren and great grandchildren brought her tremendous joy. She was a constant, loving presence in their lives. The hours she spent traveling to sports games, concerts, birthday parties and more are too numerous to count. A golden heart stopped beating when we lost Barbara and she will truly be missed by all her family, friends, and community.
Barbara was the caring sister of Josephine (Alan) Babbitt, Carole (Edwin) Grant, Geraldine (Anthony) Bonanno, Dolores Taverna, Annette (Robert) Cournoyer, Philip (Eileen) Benoit, Joseph (Geraldine) Benoit and Deborah (Stephen) Arena; cherished mother of Richard (Christine) Crimaldi, Salvatore Crimaldi Jr and the late Maryann (Ralph) Crimaldi-Marifiote; devoted grandmother of Jamie (Alexis) Crimaldi, Ryan (Toni) Marifiote, Marc (Katelyn) Marifiote, Jessica (Tim) Collins and Brianna (Brian) Crimaldi-Campbell; loving great grandmother of Elizabeth, Alivia and Jack Crimaldi, Anastasia Marifiote and Lucy Collins; "Auntie Barb" to her many beloved nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit in the DeVito Funeral Home, 761 Mt. Auburn St., WATERTOWN on Thursday from 8:30 - 9:30 am and to her funeral mass at 10:00 am at Sacred Heart Church. Burial to follow in Cambridge Cemetery. Please visit devitofuneralhome.com to view an online guestbook.