Obituary of Barbara May Seed

Barbara May (Hooper) Seed, age 95, peacefully entered the presence of her Lord and Savior on Monday, January 25, 2021. Born in Cambridge, MA, on January 21, 1926, Barbara was the daughter of the late Albert N. and Annie J. (Tetford) Hooper, and the sister of the late Norman Roy Hooper and Evelyn Jean Hooper. She is survived by her beloved husband of 62 years, Roland (Bud) Westwood Seed of West Peabody and two of her three children: David Hooper Seed and his wife Deborah of North Reading, and Kimberly Ann (Seed) Skinner and her husband Robert of Colorado Springs, CO. Daughter Susan Westwood (Seed) Quinn, late wife of Richard Quinn of Sterling, predeceased her mother in 2017. Barbara was adored by her seven grandchildren: Nathan and Amanda Seed; Benjamin, Matthew, and Daniel Skinner; and Campbell and Brian Quinn. Barbara grew up in Woburn, where she was a 1943 graduate of Woburn High School. During World War II, Barbara served as a Red Cross Nurse’s Aide in local hospitals. She was employed for many years as a secretary, first at the Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Co. in Boston, then at High Voltage Engineering Corp. in Burlington before meeting her future husband on the slopes of Wildcat Mountain in NH. Bud and Barbara were avid skiers and raced in the Eastern Interclub Ski League during the 1950’s. In 1978 when the children began attending college, Barbara returned to secretarial work at EG&G Engineering in Wakefield, and she later held various executive secretarial assignments for temporary agencies. Barbara’s heart of compassion and service was demonstrated by her active involvement in church and community activities. She served as a Deaconess, volunteered in the Pioneer Girls Club, and sang for many years in the church choir at West Church of Peabody where she was a faithful member for over 60 years. Barbara is remembered with affection as a terrific Cub Scout den mother and advisor for the Rainbow Girls. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, the Peabody Women’s Club, the Peabody Historical Society, and was a Deputy Election Warden for Ward 6, Precinct 1, at the West Memorial School where she served many years “at the polls”. In addition, Barbara tirelessly drove her children to years of sports and after-school activities. Barbara and Bud together enjoyed travels to Europe, Bermuda, Alaska, Hawaii, Newfoundland, Ecuador, and most of the US states. Barbara would travel anywhere to see family. She once said, “My greatest joy in life is to be surrounded by my three children and seven grandchildren.” The amount of joy Barbara brought to her loved ones cannot be adequately expressed. Her tight squeezes and giant smooches; homemade birthday cakes, bread, and Congo bars; knitted sweaters and afghans; camping trip preparation; natural way of opening her home and backyard to neighbors and friends; and willingness to do absolutely anything at any time for her family will never be forgotten. A funeral service for Barbara will be held at the West Church, 27 Johnson St., Peabody on Thursday, January 28, 2021. Friends are welcome to pay their respects at 9:00 am followed by the service at 10:00 am. Burial will follow at Woodbrook Cemetery in Woburn. To view the on-line obituary, please visit the Conway Cahill-Brodeur website at www.ccbfuneral.com