Jane (Sweeney) Barrows, a longtime resident of Whitman, and more recently of Plymouth, died Thursday at Beth-Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth, following a period of declining health. She was 94.
Jane was predeceased by her husband of 62 years, Bernard W. Barrows, and a daughter, Mary M. Ware. She is survived by her children, Peter J. Barrows, of Wareham, Mass.; David B. Barrows, and his partner, Keith Gill, of Wilson, Mich.; Maureen J. Minasian and her husband, Warren, of Bridgewater, Mass., and Steven P. Barrows, of Wareham, Mass.; as well as six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.
She was born May 11, 1927, the second child of William M. and Mary A. (Duggan) Sweeney, of Whitman. Her mother died two years later during childbirth, and her father married Margaret Buckley, then of Quincy. She grew up one of eight children in a close Irish-Catholic family and joyfully told stories about her brothers and sisters often. Jane is survived by her brothers, Michael Sweeney, and his wife, Sheila, of Middleborough, Mass., and Mark Sweeney, and his wife, Leslie, of Swampscott, Mass., in addition to 23 nieces and nephews.
Jane was a faithful Catholic and active member of Holy Ghost Parish for decades. She told stories about visiting Cardinal Francis Spellman when he was at his Whitman home located near the top of Jenkins Avenue where she grew up. She was baptized, took her first Communion, was confirmed, and married at Holy Ghost, and later served on the parish council. After moving to Plymouth in 2000, she was a regular parishioner at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church.
She graduated from Whitman High School in 1945. She stayed in touch with a number of classmates over the years, and even in her last days took pleasure in the fact she had been friends with some of the same people since the first grade.
Jane met Bernard on a double-date with her sister Mary, and her future husband, Donald Blanchard, who was also Bernard’s best friend. They married in 1947, and moved into an apartment in North Abington Center. They later bought a three-family home in Whitman and lived mostly in the town for the next 50 years.
She was a past member and chairwoman of the Whitman-Hanson Regional School Committee, was involved with the March of Dimes and Whitman Mother’s Club, and later on tutored adult reading classes through evening school programs in Brockton and Plymouth.
Nothing brought Jane more joy than being around her immediate and extended family. She enjoyed regularly hosting family dinners, summer cookouts, and holiday gatherings at her Sportsmen’s Trail home. A talented pianist, she would often play the piano while her sister sang. Her refrigerator was typically decorated with family photos of her nieces and nephews and their children.
Jane worked full-time most of her adult life, including at the Bostonian shoe factory, the Toll House, Sevigny’s Candy, the Red Coach Grill, Children Protective Services, and Topaz Engineering Supply.
Once her children were grown, Jane enjoyed traveling. Together with Bernard, they visited their daughter, Mary, in Germany and Hawaii. They also traveled to France, Italy, Ireland, England, Scotland, Bermuda, Aruba, and many spots across the United States.
In her retirement years, she could most commonly be found enjoying a glass of wine and a crossword puzzle.
Visiting hours will be Friday Nov. 5 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Blanchard Funeral Chapel, Plymouth Street (Rte. 58 @ the rotary)Whitman. A funeral Mass will be said Saturday Nov. 6 at 11 a.m., at the Holy Ghost Church. Burial will be in the St. James Cemetery, Whitman.
Instead of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Plymouth Senior Center, 44 Nook Road, Plymouth, MA 02360.