Barbara Theresa Driggers (Gildea – Young), “Mimi”, 83 of Windham, NH passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 25, 2016, in Manchester, NH. Born in Jamaica Plain, MA on July 14, 1932. The third eldest daughter of the late Frances and Ann (Mellett) Gildea, Barbara lived her full and beautiful life throughout the Boston area and Southern NH. She was proud of her Irish heritage being a first generation of Irish-American.
A truly loving and compassionate woman, Barbara cherished making memories with her family and friends despite geographic distance. Armed with a wit and sense of humor that was second to none, Barbara was always creating laughter or taking her fair part in it. As a talented artist she spent many years drawing and painting, filling family and friends’ homes with original artwork that brightened rooms in a way that only she could. Barbara enjoyed traveling and saw much of the world during her lifetime, even taking her grandchildren on their own one-on-one “Trip with Mimi” when they turned 11 years old. Always going out of her way to take care of others, Barbara spent years as an active volunteer with the Sisters of Mercy and brought so much comfort and joy to family, friends and strangers that needed it.
She is survived by her three children, Bruce Young and his wife Kim Young,of Conyers, GA, Barbara Ouellette of Flower Mound, TX, Maz DeLuca and William P. DeLuca III of Windham, NH; her siblings Noreen Rowland, James Gildea, Joan Twomey, Eileen Brennan, Marion Mullins, Joseph Gildea and Judy Knight as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sisters Mary Quick, Nancy Hetman and Peggy Sheehan, as well as her son-in-law, Dennis Ouellette. A loving and attentive grandmother to her ten grandchildren Corey, Billy IV, Jodi, Kristen, Lyndsi, Tony, Steven, Dustin, Marisa and Dylan; and six (soon to be seven) great grandchildren Adeline, Billy V, Gio, Holden, Camden and Ella. Mimi will be sorely missed by all of those lucky enough to have been loved and cared for by her.
A gathering of family and friends was held on Sunday, February 28, 2016 from 4:00-6:00 pm at the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 290 Mammoth Rd., Londonderry, NH. A Memorial Mass was celebrated on Monday February 29th at 11:00am at St. Matthew’s Church, Searles Rd., Windham. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Tom Plouffe Go Fund Me page to purchase a wheelchair accessible van.