Mary Belle Small

Mary Belle (Barker) Small passed away on August 16, 2025. Born at Cape Cod Hospital in 1935, Mary Belle was a life-long resident of South Harwich where she met her late husband, George. As the valedictorian of Harwich High School class of 1953, Mary Belle was active in sports and school organizations. She attended Bridgewater State College and later completed a master's in education at Wheelock College. Mary Belle touched the lives of many generations through her decades of work in the Harwich school system and with the Harwich Early Childhood Council as an advocate for early childhood and special needs education.

In her retirement Mary Belle volunteered time at the Harwich Port Library and worked to promote children's literacy through grant writing and story hour. She also was involved with the Harwich Ecumenical Council for Housing. As an avid reader she was devoted to her book group who supported her through her last years.

Mary Belle's greatest joy was her family. She spent countless hours on the sideline of sporting events watching her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. In the early years of raising her family much time was spent enjoying camping on the outer beach, boating in Pleasant Bay, shell fishing, teaching her children to skate on the duck pond or walking the wooded trails of South Harwich. Her second joy was sitting on or swimming lengths at Red River Beach where she was the first lifeguard in the 1950s. At that time, she guarded the entire beach alone while also watching her youngest brother, Tom. As the oldest child of a fisherman and of a farmer's daughter, Mary Belle was a benevolent and practical Cape Codder who valued and taught independence. Her self-less, gentle, gracious and wise presence will be missed as she was the anchor for so many.

Mary Belle leaves her daughters; Susanne Butler, and Pamela Small (Steve DiFillippo); her son, Jonathan Small (Karen); her beloved grandchildren, Aaron, Clayton, Benjamin, Evelyn, Katherine, Michael, Ella, Maximillian, Marina, Jillian, and Kate; and her great-grandchildren, Georgia, Charlotte, Maggie and Levi. Additionally, she leaves her brother, Albert Barker (Jeanne), sisters-in-law, Jean Barker and Sue Castiglione, and many nieces and nephews. Mary Belle is predeceased in death by her husband, George; her son, Gregory; siblings, Eleanor Simpson, Edna Baldwin, and Tom Barker; nephews, Skip Simpson and Aaron Barker; and niece, Arlene Simpson.

Services will be privately held. Donations can be made in her name by mailed check to the Harwich Port Library, P.O. Box 175, Harwich Port, MA 02646 or The Harwich Children's Fund .