Obituary for Barbara R. Devaney (Bennett)
Barbara Ruth (Bennett) Devaney
It’s amazing how a name can capture a lifetime and yet never come close to expressing the depth, breadth, or spirit of a person.
Our mom, Barbara, has ended her bodily journey here on earth. She was surrounded by the of love her life, our dad, Austin Henry and her four daughters, Barbara (Barbie) Moore, her namesake, Audrey Dolmat, Maureen Hayward and Michelle Iverson. Mom was predeceased by her son-in-law, Doug Hayward who she loved dearly. She will also be missed by her son in-law, Bill Iverson.
We spent Moms final days with her in their home. To say she will be missed, doesn’t express the pain in our hearts and the missing piece that her passing will leave in our lives.
Mom was born in Boston, Massachusetts on October 13th, 1942, to Millison and Merton Bennett (both predeceased). Mom and Dad moved from Boston MA to Somersworth, NH in 1968 where they spent over fifty years. Their last few years they lived quietly in a little townhouse in Rochester, NH.
Mom touched many lives in her 81 years.
Mom was an artist. She was honored with a four-year scholarship to art school when she graduated high school. She declined that prestigious award to marry the man of her dreams, our dad, Austin (Ottie) Henry Devaney.
Mom and Dad celebrated 62 years of marriage this past June. Mom’s quick wit and one-liners were a regular part of their days. To say they had a unique banter would be an understatement! Their bedtime routine would end with Mom singing to Dad, a bedtime song, “Cuddle up to me, cuddle up to me, and hold me tight”. Dad took amazing care of Mom in her final years, learning to cook, clean, do laundry and grocery shop, to name a few. He even made Mom her famed Italian spaghetti sauce recipe. He did so well, that in her failing state, she was convinced she made it! Dad took such good care of Mom that he was gifted a sign that perfectly describes his role in our family, “Dad. Husband. Superhero.”
Mom had four brothers and a sister. In pictures from when she was little, she seemed spunky and silly, and I am sure greatly loved. She was predeceased by her brothers Richard (Dick), Robert (Bob) and Charles. She was, however, fortunate to have her sister Joan and brother Paul in her life till the end. Mom also had a half-brother, Bruce Bennett and half-sister, Doreen.
Together with Dads eight brothers and sisters, they shared a big, loving family. Mom always felt blessed with the love of her extended family. Mom’s sisterhood and long-term friendships with our Aunts Joan, Audrey, Elinor, Angel, Mary and Cathy and were some of her greatest treasures in life.
Mom and Dad have a beautiful legacy with their grandchildren, Shayne Staples, Sarah Ayers, Kelly Dolmat, Dustin Moore and his wife Karen, Jamie Stanchina and her husband Riley, Courtny and Drew
Meserve and Amanda.
Visits from their precious great grandchildren were valued by Mom and Dad. They include Damian, Austin, Brendan, Conner, Delia, Austin, Marley, Eisley, Ellison, Jack and Fyurian. Mom was never happier, than when she was with people she loved, surrounded by family and friends.
Mom loved and was loved by a plethora of nieces and nephews, too many to list, but not forgotten and always in her heart and ours. As our cousin Chuck wrote in his goodbye to her, “my wild, fun, crazy Aunt Barbara”. I am sure many would concur.
Mom could be selfless and often sacrificed her own needs to support those she loved. She enjoyed shopping and was always on a quest for the best sales to make our next event the most special that she could.
Mom was a child at heart and had a boisterous personality to match. Her favorite colors were purple and pink with a dusting of sparkles and glitter. She enjoyed Disney princess movies. She loved cats; we usually had one or more. Mom dressed for Halloween to take us Trick or Treating. She was an avid reader, often reading a book a day. Some of her favorites were romance novels. Mom crocheted many quilts, scarfs and baby outfits. Her artistry extended to cake decorating. She decorated beautiful birthday cakes and some unbelievable multi-tier wedding cakes. Her favorite ice creams came from Lone Oak.
Mom volunteered as a Brownie (Girl Scout) leader when we were young. She loved to dance and would break out in dance anytime Paradise by the Dashboard Light by Meatloaf was playing. Mom always had a camera in her hand and captured so many priceless memories that will be treasured for untold years. Unfortunately, she was behind the camera so there are far too few photos of her. Mom enthusiastically attended everyone’s events from sporting to dance recitals.
Her biggest personality trait was probably her unique sense of humor that her beautiful hospice nurse Elizabeth aptly described as, spicy! Though, for some of us, it was also a source of embarrassment because her favorite genre leaned risqué! She may have learned some of these jokes from her brother Paul, brother-in-law Lee and her son-in-law Doug. She always enjoyed their impromptu comedy and stories. We played lots of cards and board games, and she enjoyed Bingo. Many of you will remember her fondly from those days as she both volunteered and played.
Mom loved to travel, however, one of Mom and Dad's favorite places, is White Lake National Park, right here in New Hampshire. We have many happy family memories and photos from there. Mom would travel to the ends of the earth to visit a friend or family in need. Mom gave everything she had to give, she was perfectly imperfect, and loved enormously.
Mom’s final years were plagued with dementia which ultimately claimed her life. However, her spicy personality and “I love you more’s”, were there right up through her last days.
We are forever grateful to Wentworth Hospice Care for the care and support they provided during Mom’s final months. A special thank you to Elizabeth and Kaitlin. Another thank you to Strafford Nutrition Meals on Wheels, for helping Dad toward the end of Moms life, by providing meals, so that he didn’t have to.
Mom’s service will be private. If you would like to donate in Mom’s memory, please donate to dementia research at Alzheimer’s Foundation of America and/or Wentworth Hospice Care or Strafford Nutrition Meals on Wheels.
It’s amazing how a name can capture a lifetime and yet never come close to expressing the depth, breadth, or spirit of a person.
Our mom, Barbara, has ended her bodily journey here on earth. She was surrounded by the of love her life, our dad, Austin Henry and her four daughters, Barbara (Barbie) Moore, her namesake, Audrey Dolmat, Maureen Hayward and Michelle Iverson. Mom was predeceased by her son-in-law, Doug Hayward who she loved dearly. She will also be missed by her son in-law, Bill Iverson.
We spent Moms final days with her in their home. To say she will be missed, doesn’t express the pain in our hearts and the missing piece that her passing will leave in our lives.
Mom was born in Boston, Massachusetts on October 13th, 1942, to Millison and Merton Bennett (both predeceased). Mom and Dad moved from Boston MA to Somersworth, NH in 1968 where they spent over fifty years. Their last few years they lived quietly in a little townhouse in Rochester, NH.
Mom touched many lives in her 81 years.
Mom was an artist. She was honored with a four-year scholarship to art school when she graduated high school. She declined that prestigious award to marry the man of her dreams, our dad, Austin (Ottie) Henry Devaney.
Mom and Dad celebrated 62 years of marriage this past June. Mom’s quick wit and one-liners were a regular part of their days. To say they had a unique banter would be an understatement! Their bedtime routine would end with Mom singing to Dad, a bedtime song, “Cuddle up to me, cuddle up to me, and hold me tight”. Dad took amazing care of Mom in her final years, learning to cook, clean, do laundry and grocery shop, to name a few. He even made Mom her famed Italian spaghetti sauce recipe. He did so well, that in her failing state, she was convinced she made it! Dad took such good care of Mom that he was gifted a sign that perfectly describes his role in our family, “Dad. Husband. Superhero.”
Mom had four brothers and a sister. In pictures from when she was little, she seemed spunky and silly, and I am sure greatly loved. She was predeceased by her brothers Richard (Dick), Robert (Bob) and Charles. She was, however, fortunate to have her sister Joan and brother Paul in her life till the end. Mom also had a half-brother, Bruce Bennett and half-sister, Doreen.
Together with Dads eight brothers and sisters, they shared a big, loving family. Mom always felt blessed with the love of her extended family. Mom’s sisterhood and long-term friendships with our Aunts Joan, Audrey, Elinor, Angel, Mary and Cathy and were some of her greatest treasures in life.
Mom and Dad have a beautiful legacy with their grandchildren, Shayne Staples, Sarah Ayers, Kelly Dolmat, Dustin Moore and his wife Karen, Jamie Stanchina and her husband Riley, Courtny and Drew
Meserve and Amanda.
Visits from their precious great grandchildren were valued by Mom and Dad. They include Damian, Austin, Brendan, Conner, Delia, Austin, Marley, Eisley, Ellison, Jack and Fyurian. Mom was never happier, than when she was with people she loved, surrounded by family and friends.
Mom loved and was loved by a plethora of nieces and nephews, too many to list, but not forgotten and always in her heart and ours. As our cousin Chuck wrote in his goodbye to her, “my wild, fun, crazy Aunt Barbara”. I am sure many would concur.
Mom could be selfless and often sacrificed her own needs to support those she loved. She enjoyed shopping and was always on a quest for the best sales to make our next event the most special that she could.
Mom was a child at heart and had a boisterous personality to match. Her favorite colors were purple and pink with a dusting of sparkles and glitter. She enjoyed Disney princess movies. She loved cats; we usually had one or more. Mom dressed for Halloween to take us Trick or Treating. She was an avid reader, often reading a book a day. Some of her favorites were romance novels. Mom crocheted many quilts, scarfs and baby outfits. Her artistry extended to cake decorating. She decorated beautiful birthday cakes and some unbelievable multi-tier wedding cakes. Her favorite ice creams came from Lone Oak.
Mom volunteered as a Brownie (Girl Scout) leader when we were young. She loved to dance and would break out in dance anytime Paradise by the Dashboard Light by Meatloaf was playing. Mom always had a camera in her hand and captured so many priceless memories that will be treasured for untold years. Unfortunately, she was behind the camera so there are far too few photos of her. Mom enthusiastically attended everyone’s events from sporting to dance recitals.
Her biggest personality trait was probably her unique sense of humor that her beautiful hospice nurse Elizabeth aptly described as, spicy! Though, for some of us, it was also a source of embarrassment because her favorite genre leaned risqué! She may have learned some of these jokes from her brother Paul, brother-in-law Lee and her son-in-law Doug. She always enjoyed their impromptu comedy and stories. We played lots of cards and board games, and she enjoyed Bingo. Many of you will remember her fondly from those days as she both volunteered and played.
Mom loved to travel, however, one of Mom and Dad's favorite places, is White Lake National Park, right here in New Hampshire. We have many happy family memories and photos from there. Mom would travel to the ends of the earth to visit a friend or family in need. Mom gave everything she had to give, she was perfectly imperfect, and loved enormously.
Mom’s final years were plagued with dementia which ultimately claimed her life. However, her spicy personality and “I love you more’s”, were there right up through her last days.
We are forever grateful to Wentworth Hospice Care for the care and support they provided during Mom’s final months. A special thank you to Elizabeth and Kaitlin. Another thank you to Strafford Nutrition Meals on Wheels, for helping Dad toward the end of Moms life, by providing meals, so that he didn’t have to.
Mom’s service will be private. If you would like to donate in Mom’s memory, please donate to dementia research at Alzheimer’s Foundation of America and/or Wentworth Hospice Care or Strafford Nutrition Meals on Wheels.