Winifred M. Barry, a lifelong resident of Wilmington passed away peacefully at her home following a short illness, December 14, 2019. She was 94 years of age. Winifred was the beloved wife of the late Robert H. Barry, Sr. Born in Malden, she was one of ten children of the late Margaret (Coye) and Joseph H. Woods, Sr.
Winifred was raised and educated in Wilmington and graduated from Wilmington High School as the Valedictorian of the class of 1942. Winifred was also an outstanding student athlete in high school and was a member of both the basketball and field hockey teams. Shortly after high school, Winifred began working as a secretary for the B & M Railroad Publicity Manager. She held this position for a number of years. Once her children started to arrive she dedicated herself to raising her children and caring for her family. When her children grew older she began working again with the Wilmington Public School System as a secretary at the Wilmington High School and Shawsheen Elementary School, then became the Executive Secretary for the Business Manager of the Public Schools. She retired after working more than twenty-five years for the Town of Wilmington.
Over the years, Winifred enjoyed traveling, playing the piano and was a veracious reader. She always wanted to continually learn new things and loved to share her knowledge and wisdom with her family and friends. She also enjoyed cross word puzzles, especially those in the New York Times and Boston Globe, because they were the most challenging. Winifred was also a woman with a strong Catholic faith. She was a lifelong communicant of St. Thomas of Villanova Church where she volunteered teaching CCD, was a member of the Catholic Daughters and drew great comfort and strength from practicing her faith. Winifred will fondly be remembered for her devotion to her family, being the moral compass and center of her large and loving family and of course her quick sense of humor. She will be greatly missed.
She was the devoted mother of Atty. Robert H. Barry and his wife Deborah of Chelmsford, John J. Barry and his wife Irene of Leominster, Richard M. Barry and his wife Kathleen of Wilmington and Kathleen M. Barry also of Wilmington. She was the loving grandmother of Robert H. Barry III, Elizabeth Barry, Andrew J. Barry, Christina Barry, Michael Barry, Thomas Barry, Richard Barry, Jr., and Patrick Barry. Loving great grandmother of Julia, Sarah, Lily and Ava Kinney, Samuel, Benjamin, Tyler, Maya, Elias and Scarlett Barry. Cherished sister of Edward Woods and his wife Sandra of Reading, the late Joseph, James "Leo", Robert, Richard, William, Mildred, Marjorie Woods, and Catherine McHugh. Sister-in-law of Mary Ann Baird, Brenda McCabe and the late John Barry.
Funeral from the Dello Russo Family Funeral Home, 374 Main St., WILMINGTON, Friday, December 20th, at 9 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass celebrated in St. Thomas of Villanova Church, 126 Middlesex Ave, Wilmington, at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday 7 to 9 PM and Thursday 4 to 8 PM. Services will conclude with burial at Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington. It has been requested that in lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Winifred's memory to Medical Missionaries of Mary, c/o Mission Development Office, 4425 W 63rd St., Suite 100, Chicago, IL 60629-5565.