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Stephanie posted a condolence
Tuesday, November 24, 2020
I think of you often and miss you always... I can still hear your laugh and know you're always around! I love you Auntie...
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The family of Barbara J. Henry uploaded a photo
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
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The family of Barbara J. Henry uploaded a photo
Monday, August 12, 2019
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The family of Barbara J. Henry uploaded a photo
Monday, June 24, 2019
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Linda Tucker posted a condolence
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Happy Birthday, dear Barb. I smile at you each and every day. Today is the Repeal Day of Don't Ask Don't Tell! How appropriate on your day. Finally...! I love you...
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Donna Hersey posted a condolence
Monday, September 11, 2006
Bon voage, Barb. I wish you a beautiful journey.
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Susan Rose Dufour posted a condolence
Saturday, August 19, 2006
A FOREVER FRIEND<br><br>Grace us by day with your prescence<br>in the flight of a butterfly.<br>Beautiful wings dancing in the sunshine<br>as you flutter amongst us.<br>Bringing us joy with your natural beauty and carefree antics.<br>Calling up smiles from deep within...<br>so very much like you to touch us like this.<br><br>Visit us by night in the twinkle<br>of a star.<br>Your inner light shining brightly<br>in the darkest of nights.<br>Inspiring us with the very wonder<br>of it all.<br>Giving us courage and comfort...<br>as you have always done.<br><br>Come to us with the coolness of a breeze,<br>the warmth of the sun,<br>the softness of silk.<br><br>Come to us with the crackle of a fire,<br>the bark of a dog,<br>the purr of a cat,<br>the song of a bird,<br>the lapping of waves.<br><br>Come to us with the perfume of a flower,<br>the perfection of a snowflake,<br>the clean of rain,<br>the glory of color,<br>the flavor of food,<br>the comfort of a touch,<br>the joy of love,<br>the loyalty of friendship...<br>Reminding us that you are with us - always.<br><br>
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Mike Henry posted a condolence
Friday, August 11, 2006
Barbara was born September 20, 1944 in Salem, Massachusetts; the daughter of the Thomas F Jr. and Esther M. (“Babe”) Henry. I knew Barbara all of her life. I was lucky enough to be her brother. <br><br>Many people had special relationships with Barbara. First, let me talk about the most special relationship. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen two people more suited to each other than Barbara and Joyce. Ying to each other’s Yang, and Yang to each other’s Ying. They have persevered through good times and bad, happy times and sad, times of great gains and times of great loss. I don’t know if either one of them could have made it through those 31 years alone, but together they did. Consider yourself blessed if you’re ever in a relationship half as good as this one. Joyce, thank you for taking such good care of Barbara -- and Barbara, thank you for taking such good care of Joyce. They brought each other true happiness for 31 years, and maybe none of those 31 years were as happy as this last one. Marriage just put a finishing bloom on an already flowering garden.<br><br>I think I first found out how special Barbara was when she was 8 years old. I was 10 years old, and I and a few 10 years old friends were often getting beaten-up by a much larger 12 year old neighborhood bully. One summer day I came back to our yard with two friends after just such an encounter. All of a sudden, Barbara was headed down the driveway and out across the street. “Where are you going?”, we yelled. “I’m going to beat up that kid.”, she yelled back. It would be nice to tell you that she did beat-up that kid, but if you knew Barbara, then you know that the important part of the story is that she just couldn’t stand injustice, and she certainly wasn’t going to stand by while someone bullied her brother. As far I can see, she just never changed her attitude on either one of those issues. Luckily as time went on, she got to concentrate more on the former than on the latter.<br><br>The expression, “She would give you the shirt off her back”, is one that is often overused in today’s society -- so much so that sometimes it even seems trite. The way I see it, you don’t even know what the expression really means if you never met Barbara. If you had the need, she had the shirt! As her brother, that trait always made me nervous, because I know that there are so many people out there waiting to take advantage of just such good-hearted people. However, it caused her to do a tremendous amount of good for other people, and, as her brother, I knew deep down inside that she never would change and that in fact I really didn’t want her to change. She never did change. If you knew her, you already knew the punch-line.<br><br>It’s almost silly for me to try to talk to many of you about the Whistlestop Diner. If you visited the diner, then you know what a unique experience it was and what a unique person Barbara was -- and many of you visited the diner much more often than I did as I lived in New York these past years. Durgan Park restaurant in Boston may think they invented the “waitresses with attitude” thing, but at Durgan Park, it’s a marketing gimmick. At the Whistlestop Diner, it was just who Barbara was. She loved her brusque exterior in the diner. If you were there spouting intolerance or acting rude, you got exactly what you deserved, but if you were ever in need, then you got to see what was underneath that exterior. In response to a question from a Boston Globe reporter who visited the diner, she responded, “Life is hard. It’s not about that. It’s about what you do in response to that.” What Barbara did in response to that is what made her who she was. What she did in response to that is what made all of you love her. I keep that quote of hers hanging up in great big bold print on a sign in my office at work. I try to live by it. Mr. Lupo ought to be working hard to get that quote into Bartlett’s Quotations.<br><br>When cancer attacked Barbara’s friends, she attacked back. Remember the story from when she was 8? Cancer was just another bully that needed attacking. She was an activist in raising funds for cancer research for the North Shore Medical Center through numerous events including an annual cookout held at the Whistlestop Diner. Barbara and Joyce made fund-raising for cancer research a year round activity. There was always an opportunity to make a contribution for that research if you stopped in at the diner.<br><br>What about this apparent brusqueness? The hardest thing Barbara ever did was to accept a compliment. I’m not sure she ever did it. True givers don’t see anything special in what they do. She didn’t think she was anyone special. She thought you and I were special. I’m only getting to write this stuff tonight, because she’s not here to tell me to knock it off.<br><br>As long as I’ve known Barbara, I don’t think I’ve ever put together in my own mind what the unifying theme was behind Barbara. Many of you helped me to do that as I have interacted with you over the last few months, and have heard so many of your stories. The theme is so simple -- she just tried to make life a little better for others. Many times at her own expense, but most of the time she didn’t even notice that. Thank you for helping me to learn more about Barbara.<br><br>There are some things you can do to honor Barbara. Detest injustice! Don’t tolerate intolerance! On occasion, give someone the shirt off your back! Just try to live her theme every now and then. When you get a chance, try to make life a little better for someone else. You’ll feel good about it, and, somewhere up there, I promise you, you’ll get a smile instead of a wisecrack out of Barbara.<br><br>Barbara has left us and gone to a better place. The person that needs your help now is Joyce. We’ll all give Joyce support in the short term. That’s the easy part. The pain and loss will last for weeks, months, and years. Continue that support for weeks, months, and years. It’s Joyce who needs your help now.<br><br>I was lucky to be Barbara's brother<br>Mike Henry<br>
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Anonymous posted a condolence
Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Sending love and deepest sympathy to Joyce and all of Barbara's family. I feel as though I know you all-she spoke so often about the whole clan.<br><br>The world would be an infinitely better place if we could have cloned Barbara and sent her out to fix it all. I loved hearing her strong opinions about everything, but they all seemed to boil down to an intense belief in people treating others with kindness and respect. In the few years I knew her as a diner regular, I loved her combination of indignant fury, and a hilarious sense of humor.<br><br>The diner was full of people who adored her acid-tongue and nurturing--a funny combination, but it worked. The early breakfast crowd was a motley bunch, who bonded over Barbara's muffins (she always let me choose the best one!), coming to know each other's family joys and sadnesses, while teasing and bickering. Watching Barbara hover over her elderly customers, checking on their ailments, making sure they ate enough, and ordering them to take care of themselves was always touching. <br><br>I often tried to be the first one there when she opened--it was my favorite time for catching up. I always left feeling well fed in my heart as well as my stomach.<br><br>I feel blessed to have been her friend, and will miss her terribly. She was a peach.<br>Kim Brengle, Salem
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Deb Pagano & John McAuley posted a condolence
Wednesday, August 9, 2006
To laugh often & much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch.... to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. THIS is to have SUCCEEDED ! - Emerson<br><br>Barbara - You have SUCCEEDED !!<br><br>Your light has reached into the souls of many. You were a magnet - drawing people to you for you to feed their souls. - and your spinach & eggs were darn good too ! ;)<br><br>We will always love you and miss you !!<br><br>Joyce - When I looked into Barbara's eyes I saw you, and when I look into your eyes I see Barbara. 2 halves of a whole. <br><br>We're here for you. You are in our hearts, minds, and prayers. Wrap yourself in love and peace. WE LOVE YOU !! <br><br>Love, Deb & John
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Patricia M. Henry Falbo posted a condolence
Tuesday, August 8, 2006
I loved visiting with Barbara as a child. She was my older, Salem, cousin. Barbara always made me laugh and enjoy! I had the opportunity to visit her diner a couple of times. Such a gift she was to all of us! I will miss her.
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Brian Henry posted a condolence
Tuesday, August 8, 2006
I will always have fond memories of Barbara.
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Sandy Whittier posted a condolence
Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Joyce, <br>So sorry to read of your tremenous loss.<br>Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers.<br>Fondly, Sandy (Bickford)
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Trudy Rodgers Skurski posted a condolence
Tuesday, August 8, 2006
To all of Barbara's family:<br><br>I'm so sorry to hear about Barbara's passing. She was my good buddy during grammar school at SCA. We had lots of fun together either in Salem at her house or in Nahant at my house. It may be funny but I thought about Barbara just the other day and about our "Culinary Art" activity we did one Saturday morning at her house. It was breakfast and we were making pancakes. Smoke filled the kitchen and our prepared food was unrecognizable -our "flapjacks" turned into "blackjacks". Anyway, her dad and brothers were kind and ate them. Although many years have passed since that day, it still made me smile thinking about her and her family. She'll be missed!!!<br>Sincerely,<br>Trudy
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Ellen Grosiak posted a condolence
Monday, August 7, 2006
Barbara your light will continue to shine in the hearts of those you have touched with your genereous spirit. I was lucky to have been one of those that was touched by that light!
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Sioux Hawk posted a condolence
Monday, August 7, 2006
You will be missed here, but I'm sure you're already <br>giving to others where you are now. Have peace.
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Lori and Rosa Watterson posted a condolence
Monday, August 7, 2006
Although we only met you for a short time, you left such an impression on us. Your sincerity and your sense of humor will be forever in our thoughts. We know that your spirit will always be present.
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David T Henry posted a condolence
Monday, August 7, 2006
My brother Brian and I had just had breakfast at Barb's diner while both of were at our Aunt Mary's (Mary is Barbara's father's sister) funeral. Barbara was as wonderful as ever. <br><br>She will be missed and will be in our prayers.<br><br>David, Kim and family
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Andrea, Peter and George O'Donnell posted a condolence
Sunday, August 6, 2006
We love you Barbara and will forever hold you in our hearts.
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