Susan Jane Barraclough, 70, retired Director of Nutrition and Food Services at Massachusetts General Hospital, died peacefully on Feb.15 after a courageous 19-month struggle with glioblastoma.
Daughter of the late Clifford and Betty Barraclough and stepdaughter of the late Marguerite (Margo) Barraclough, Susan was born Dec 8,1947 in Pittsburgh and raised in Bethel Park, PA., where she made cherished lifelong friends, especially in Girl Scout Troop 559.
After graduating from Bethel Park High School in 1965, she attended Ohio University, earning her BS in Nutrition before moving to Boston for an internship at Mass General in the Nutrition and Food Services Department. This began a 44-year career at MGH during which she earned an MS in Dietetics and served as director of the department for 10 years before her retirement in 2014. Her co-workers will remember her enormous creativity, energy, intelligence, caring and commitment to excellence.
Susan brought the same enthusiasm to all aspects of her life. After moving to Framingham from Brookline in 1996, she became a town meeting member and served on the Framingham Public Library Foundation Board. She was devoted to her faith, serving in various capacities first at All Saint’s Episcopal Church in Brookline, then at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Natick where she was on the vestry, a co-warden, Sunday School teacher, and co-founder of the Women’s Spiritual Group. Not surprisingly, she also oversaw the church kitchen renovation.
Susan enjoyed gardening, bird watching, knitting, reading, entertaining (she was a fabulous cook) and caring for Rainey, a cockapoo who became her retirement companion. She was also devoted to the arts, subscribing to the Boston Symphony, Huntington Theater and supporting the Museum of Fine Arts.
Travel was another pleasure. She visited Ireland, England, France, Italy, Spain, Ecuador and Canada and took special pleasure in annual summer girls-only reunions at Shore Acres Inn on North Hero Island, VT, on Lake Champlain with her Aunt Lydia, sister Barbara and cousins Cathy and Linda. She made many friends there over the years from throughout the U.S.A.
For the last 18 months she lived at Heritage Assisted Living in Framingham, where she had the opportunity to share warm memories with her family and friends who traveled many miles to comfort her. Susan was also buoyed by the love of clergy and friends from St. Paul’s and All Saint’s, who visited faithfully along with her co-workers, knitting circle, neighbors, fellow residents of Heritage and many others who were touched by Susan’s kindness.
Susan grew to love the personal aides who cared for her 24/7: Edilaine, Mara, Paula, Neide and Neia. Her family is grateful for their devotion and gentleness along with the wonderful staff at Heritage, the superlative medical team at MGH, the Partners HealthCare at Home group that provided intensive therapy, and the compassion shown by the CareGroup Parmenter Hospice team. Susan was a tenacious fighter who refused to let her difficult journey temper her warmth, exuberance, humor, courage, stubbornness or love of life.
Susan was pre-deceased by her parents, stepmother, and sister-in-law, Lorraine Barraclough of Ona, WV. She is survived by her sister Barbara Cross (Charles) of Nyack, NY; her brothers, Michael of Ona, WV, and Ret. Marine Col. David (Jane) of Pensacola, FL; her aunt, Lydia Barraclough Hayes of West Chester, PA; her stepsisters Barbara Carney (Bruce) of Sewickley, PA, Janet Ruzicka (John) of McMurray, PA; stepbrother David Pritchard of San Mateo, CA; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews.
Her family will receive friends on Friday, April 6 from 4-7 PM at John Everett and Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park St., Natick, MA.
A funeral service celebrating Susan’s life will be 11 AM Saturday, April 7 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 39 E. Central St., Natick, MA, immediately followed by a lunch reception in the church.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Susan’s memory are requested to: St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 39 East Central St., Natick, MA 01760, or CareGroup Parmenter Home Care & Hospice, Inc., One Arsenal Market Place, Watertown, MA 02472-2602. Please specify that the hospice donation is on behalf of Susan.