EMMER, Barbara (Sheffield Waite) of Wellesley, passed away peacefully on October 6, 2022. She was born on April 7, 1937 in Watertown, NY to the late Harlow Oatman Waite and Virginia Sheffield Waite. Beloved wife of Gary Owen Emmer, and mother of Jennifer Alison Emmer.
Barbara grew up in Syracuse, NY, and attended Nottingham High. Her father, Harlow was an English Professor at Syracuse University.
She graduated from Mount Holyoke in 1959, majoring in Psychology and Religion. From there, she earned a dual Masters Degree in Education and Psychology from Harvard University. Gary and Barbara met on a blind date attending Handel’s Messiah at Harvard. They married in 1961 and were together for 55 years. They settled in Wellesley, MA, where they had one daughter, Jennifer. Barbara taught school and was a guidance counselor in the Boston area.
She had her own therapy practice in Wellesley, MA for many years. Her passions included gardening, music, golf, travel and spirituality. She was a longtime member of Westgate Church, and had many friends there. As a family, the Emmers enjoyed hiking, canoeing, camping, and being outdoors.
She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Alison Emmer of Newington, CT and her brother, Harvey Rice Waite II and sister-in-law RoseAnn Waite of Topsfield, MA. Her husband Gary passed away in 2016 and her sister, Alison Waite Tajarian, passed away in 2021.
There will be a celebration of Barbara’s life at the Wayside Inn in Sudbury, MA. For details, please contact Jennifer at [email protected].