Grafton – Susan Elizabeth Barr, 77 years old, of Grafton, went to her final home in Heaven to be with God on Jan. 24, 2021 after a brief illness. Susan was born Jan. 8, 1944 in Florida to I. Stephen Barr and Mary Kessler Barr, both of whom preceded her death in 1977 and 1996, respectively.
Susan spent the first 20 years of her life in Pennsylvania where her parents ran a soda fountain and gift shop in the small village and resort town of Bushkill. She grew up with small town values knowing and caring for all her neighbors and making lifelong friends. She carried those values with her for the remainder of her life and everyone who met Susan loved her friendly and giving personality.
After her family moved to New England, Susan attended and graduated from Bay Path College in Longmeadow with a degree in Medical Administration and Transcription. Susan loved to travel and experience living in different parts of the country (San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Charleston, S.C.) where she worked for hospitals and medical facilities.
Susan was a 20-year member of Liberty Churches in Shrewsbury. She was devoted to studying God’s Word. She had a close personal walk with the Lord and strived to be loving and compassionate because of His teachings.
Being a lover of travel, Susan saw much of the world during her lifetime and ended up settling in the latter years of her life back in New England where she continued her career in Medical Transcription until her retirement. Susan was an avid photographer; loved decorating her extremely neat, not a thing out of place, apartment; loved nature walks, collecting seashells and the beach.
Susan was a serious Boston Red Sox Fan. From her teenage years until her passing, you would never see her without a radio to her ear, a radio on in the car, or the tv on in her home during Baseball Season if her beloved Red Sox were playing. Her family would frequently hear Susan moan and groan and yell out “stupid players” if the Sox were losing a game, but with just as much enthusiasm, praise them when they were doing well.
Susan leaves behind her sisters, Deborah H. Kenna (husband Jack) of Summerville, S.C. and Melissa J. B. Campbell (husband Bill) of Douglas; her nephew, Stephen Schmitt of Summerville, S.C.; her niece, Erika Schmitt Boyle (husband Sean) of Worcester; and her great-niece, 5-year-old Penelope Sue Boyle of Worcester. Penny was Susan’s best friend and the joy of her life during Susan’s last five years. The sun rose and set around Penny according to Susan. Susan also leaves several loving aunts, uncles, and cousins, most of whom reside in the Longmeadow/Springfield area.
Funeral services and burial were held privately at her family’s convenience.
Please honor Sue with donations to www.DanaFarber.JimmyFund.org in lieu of flowers.
A Book of Memories to share a message with her family is available online at www.RoneyFuneralHome.com.
