Barbara Ann Sughrue Roper, age 90, of Biglerville, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, December 30, 2023 surrounded by her loving family.
Barbara was born in West Roxbury, MA on June 27, 1933, to Marion (Madden) and Richard Joseph Sughrue. She was raised in the family home, known as Pine Rest, in South Tewksbury along with her five sisters and two brothers. They were an amazing family, united by strength and love.
Barbara had a sparkling personality to match her beautiful blue eyes and was voted Miss Congeniality as a graduating senior at Tewksbury High School, Class of 1951. She was also an excellent athlete, where her Sughrue toughness shined through on the basketball court. In 1957, Barbara married Gerald Roper and worked tirelessly in the secretarial field to support her family as Gerry pursued his doctoral degree in Chemistry.
In 1962, they made their home in Carlisle, PA where they raised their three children. Barbara put her incredible organizational skills to use in her position as secretary to the superintendent of the Carlisle Area School District. Her favorite and final career move was working alongside her husband as secretary of the Chemistry Department at Dickinson College. She was beloved by the students, who appreciated her warm smile, savvy advice and perpetually full candy dish.
Barbara enjoyed cooking and was widely known for her delicious apple crisp. She loved visiting the Amish country in Lancaster, PA where she learned the art of quilting and formed lifelong friendships with several generations of the Roy Stoltzfus family. Two of her favorite pastimes were watching figure skating and going for long rides that usually led to a delicious peanut butter sundae. After retiring, Barbara and Gerry were fortunate to enjoy summers at their camp on Pushaw Lake in Maine and winters in Miami, Florida. Homes in Tewksbury and PA also afforded them much loved family time.
Barbara is survived by her son Jay (Debra) Roper of Carlisle; her daughters, Joy (John) Twomey of Gettysburg and Chester, ME, and Jill (Doug) Lott of Biglerville; grandchildren, Jeremie Starner, Abby (Dan) Faye, Joshua and Joel Twomey, Clay, Dean and Seth Lott; great- grandsons, Alex and Matty Faye; sister, Theresa Patterson and her late husband Richard, many nieces and nephews; and Godsons, Thomas Burke, Alan Dunlevy and Timothy Morris.
She was predeceased by her husband Gerry, who passed away in February of 2022 after 65 years of marriage. She was also predeceased by her siblings, their spouses and two nephews, Joan (William) Dunlevy, Mary (Thomas) Burke, Julia (Thomas) Morris, John (Janet) Sughrue, Richard (Claire) Sughrue, Marion Sundgaard, Barry Dunlevy and Robert Burke.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Association for Science in Autism Treatment at asatonline.org.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday March 1, 2024 at 11:00 am at St. Patrick’s Shrine Church at 152 East Pomfret St., Carlisle, PA. The family is planning an Open House on Sunday, March 3, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the home of Jill Lott, 870 Pleasant Valley Road, Biglerville, for local friends and family to gather and remember Barbara.
A celebration of Barbara's life will be held at Tewksbury Funeral Home, 1 Dewey Street in Tewksbury, MA on Sunday, March 24, 2024. An hour of visitation will run from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon with the service thereafter. The service will be streamed live and recorded at