Madelyn Catherine Barber

Rev. Madelyn Catherine (Harnish) Barber, 93, of Madonna Manor, North Washington Street, North Attleboro, died on Saturday, January 31, 2015. She was the wife of the late Rev. Charles O. Barber to whom she was married in 1943 and who died in 2006. Born in Nova Scotia, Canada on May 13, 1921, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Leona (Croft) Harnish. She was raised and educated in the public schools of Boston. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Education degree from the former State College of Boston and earned her Master's degree in Educational Administration from Syracuse University. While at Syracuse, Rev. Barber was eligible for honors and was elected to the Pi Lambda Theta honor society for her scholastic accomplishments. She was very close to obtaining her Doctorate in Education. She was an educator of Social Sciences, Mathematics, English and General Science for more than 20 years. Rev. Barber was the first woman elected to the Dolgeville District Board of Education in Dolgeville, NY. She was the Vice President of the Herkimer County School Board Association. From 1962 to 1966 she was the Executive Director of the Doolittle Home for Aged Persons in Foxboro, MA. Both she and her husband continued their studies to aid in the knowledge of the needs of the aging by attending institutes and seminars. She received her achievement certificate for management, advanced administration and medical economics as awarded by the American Medical Association and the American Nursing Home Association. Active in the Unitarian-Universalist denomination, Rev. Barber was a member of the Ballou Channing Religious Education Committee and the Ballou Channing Women's Association. While in the St. Lawrence District, Rev. Barber served as the President of the District Women's Federation. In support of her husband, faith and church communities, Rev. Barber was active and concerned in all phases of church programs wherever her husband and she served. That involvement included being the Religious Education Director at the Salem, MA church and at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Durham, New Hampshire. At the Salem church, Rev. Barber was a board member of the Women's Friend Society and Chairperson of the Outreach Committee and President of the Salem Church Women United. She moved to North Attleboro from Deland, Florida in 2006 and had been a resident of Madonna Manor since 2009. In addition to her devotion to her faith, Rev. Barber enjoyed camping in earlier years, gardening, reading, time spent outdoors and clipping articles from newspapers. She remained true to her roots in the farming industry for many years and had a deep appreciation for that hard work and the role farmers play in society. She leaves a daughter: Susan E. Murphy and her husband, Robert Murphy, of Deland, Florida; a son: John R. Barber and his wife, Charlotte (Drew) Barber of Plainville; nine grandchildren; many great grandchildren and several great great grandchildren. She was the sister of the late Larry Harnish. Family and friends are cordially invited to attend a Memorial Visitation with the family on Saturday, February 7, 2015 from 9:00 - 10:00 AM in The Chapel at Madonna Manor, 85 North Washington Street, North Attleboro. A Celebration of Her Life and Faith will immediately follow at 10:00 AM in The Chapel at Madonna Manor, 85 North Washington Street, North Attleboro with the Rev. Kelly K. Thibeault, Pastor of the First Congregational Church, Old Post Road, North Attleboro, officiating. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Rev. Barber's name may be made to Lenore's Pantry, 43 South Washington Street, North Attleboro, MA 02760. For additional information or to send the family a written expression of sympathy, please visit an online guestbook at www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com . Arrangements are under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro. (508) 695-0200