Westborough – Michelle “Shelly” Barnes Hendrix, 47, of North Reading, formerly of Westborough, passed away suddenly Tuesday, May 20, 2014 alongside fiancé Kirk Arsenault also of North Reading.
She graduated from Assabet Valley High School and Salter College and recently MTI for Dental Assisting.
She leaves her two beautiful granddaughters, Harley Jane Hendrix of Westborough and Ava Brielle Urraca of Worcester, along with her two children, William Hendrix of Westborough and Rebecca Lee Hendrix of Worcester; her parents, Roger and Virginia Barnes of Westborough; a godmother, Joan Behuniak of Southbury, Conn.; three sisters, Jennifer Melo of Hudson, Beth Meyer of New Durham, N.H., and Leslie Keller of Lawrenceville, Ga.; two grandmothers, June Ruth Larson Behuniak of Oxford, Conn. and Barbara Barnes of Westborough; her best friend, Jill Dwyer of Hopkinton; nieces Jenny and Lily Melo; nephews Jason, Brendan, Daniel, Joseph, Johnathan, Logan, Justin, and Timothy Melo, all of Hudson; niece Jemma Meyer and nephew Jared Meyer of New Durham, N.H.; a niece, Rachel Keller, and three nephews, Christopher, Peter, and Caleb Keller, all of Lawrenceville, Ga.; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
She was the owner of Bittersweet Farm of North Brookfield and Useful Things of Westborough, and Enchanted Forest Herbals. She was also employed at Bertucci's in Westborough. She was a bus driver in North Brookfield and Westborough. She also worked at UMass in the animal research department.
She enjoyed spinning wool from her llamas and sheep, and won many ribbons at the Springfield Fair. She loved doing work for the Boston Wounded Veterans and 911 First Responders, and was an advocate for Hard Hat Heroes. And, she loved going for adventurous motorcycle rides on the Harley with fiancé with Kirk Arsenault. But, most of all, she lived life to the fullest, and loved her grandkids.
A graveside funeral service will be held Saturday, May 31, at 10:00 a.m., in Pine Grove Cemetery, South Street, Westborough. Calling hours are Friday, May 30, from 4 – 7 p.m., at the Rand-Harper-Pickering Westborough Funeral Home, 62 West Main St., Westborough.
In lieu of flowers, the family will be accepting donations to the “Michelle Barnes Hendrix Memorial Fund,” sent c/o DCU to 225 Shrewsbury St., Worcester, MA 01604.
