Barbara Ann (Southard) MacKenzie passed away peacefully on December 1, 2024 in Cumberland, RI with the love of her life, Hank, by her side. Born on March 18, 1942, in Lynn, MA, Barbie grew up in Saugus, MA, and attended Saugus High School. It was there, in 1958, that she met Hank in the milk line. Barbie, a baton twirler, and Hank, a football player, quickly started going steady. She told her girlfriends “I’m going to marry him!” She was only fifteen, but she was right. Barbie and Hank married on June 18, 1960, beginning a love story that spanned six decades. Theirs is the greatest love story ever told.
Hank and Barbie enjoyed 64 years of marriage together, starting with two years in Regensburg, Germany, where Hank was stationed with the US Army. Despite only being eighteen and in a foreign country, sometimes being without running water or a refrigerator, Barbie showed strength, resilience and unwavering commitment to Hank and their growing family. They returned home in 1962 with nine-month-old Michael and little brother Chris on the way. They later welcomed two daughters, Joann and Karen, and raised their family on Pearson Street in Saugus where they lived for 42 years before retiring to The Villages, FL. Through all the ups and downs in life, they showed their children the true meaning of love, commitment, and undying devotion. And no matter where they were, if Anne Murray’s “Could I Have This Dance” came on, they got up and danced.
A devoted mother and homemaker, Barbie was also a creative entrepreneur. In 1975, she co-founded the non-profit Saugus Wanapanaquins Baton Twirling Corp with her sister, Pat. In a time when there few activities for young girls, Barbie and Pat sought to fill that gap. They filed the necessary paperwork, recruited girls, taught them how to twirl, and sewed over 100 costumes in three months. On Veteran’s Day in 1975, the Saugus Wanapanaquins marched in their first of many parades. For more than three decades, over 2,000 young girls from Saugus twirled their batons, danced in parades, and competed in shows as proud members under Barbie’s guidance. Later her daughters, Joann and Karen, and her niece, Dawn, all taught too. In 1994, Barbie was named Saugus Person of the Year for her dedication to the girls of Saugus.
Barbie loved to sew. In the ‘80s, she used her artistic creativity to create custom home decor and clothing which she sold through home parties. She would say that when the kids were young, her sewing machine was her best friend (other than Hank). She made her graduation dress, her wedding going away dress, matching shirts for their honeymoon, and the dress she wore to Karen’s wedding, among many many other garments.
“Barrie’s” ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren were her greatest treasure. Her face beamed with pride watching them play sports, laugh together, and everything in between. She loved all the years camping at Old Stage Campground, especially when the whole family would visit. And she always made sure everyone was fed, whether it was big spaghetti dinners at camp or chicken soup when they were sick. She built a legacy of love. She would say she was lucky enough to watch all her grandchildren graduate high school. We would say we were lucky enough to have her in our lives for as long as we did.
Barbie’s love and dedication were the heart of our family. Her creativity shone through in the themed parties she planned, complete with costumes, skits, and song & dance routines, showing us the importance of celebrating life's moments. She made every event special with her thoughtfulness and famous brownies. Her beautiful smile melted the hearts of her family, friends, and caretakers alike. She reminded us, through her words and actions, that family always comes first. Barbie leaves a memory of love, togetherness, and creativity, which will be cherished by all who knew her.
Barbie is survived by her beloved husband, Hank; her children, Michael and his wife Eileen of Holbrook, MA, Chris and his partner Nancy of Plymouth, MA, Joann Webster and her late husband Dave of Saugus, MA, and Karen Freedman and her husband Jason of Cumberland, RI; sisters Pat Hood (Bill Hood), Sharon D’Aloisio (Dana D’Aloisio), brother Chuck Southard and many nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind ten grandchildren who each held a special place in her heart: Amanda, DJ, Katie, Jesse, Mikey, Will, Tara, Allison, Danny and Kenzie, and six great grandchildren: Faith, Jaxson, JJ, Lucas, Bowie and Jack.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Marjorie Southard; son-in-law, David Webster; daughter-in-law, Rhonda MacKenzie; and grandson, Sherman Deering.
A celebration of life will be planned in the spring.