West Boylston/Worcester – Barbara J. Argento, 92, a longtime resident of West Boylston and Worcester passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on November 22, 2024.
Barbara was born and raised in Worcester, MA, the daughter of William and Catherine (O’Connor) Kelleher. Barbara was a proud graduate of Saint Peter’s High School, Worcester. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Worcester State Teachers College where she wrote the Class of 1953 song as well as played basketball and softball. She organized many class reunions for her high school and college classmates. After graduation, she taught elementary school at Burncoat Elementary School in Worcester.
Barbara married the love of her life, Nicholas ‘Nick’ Argento in 1956. For many years, Barbara worked alongside her husband as the business manager for Nick Argento’s Market, Worcester. She was an active member of the Guild of Our Lady of Providence, serving for many years as a volunteer at the Free Medical Center, St. Bernard’s Church in Worcester. She was a longstanding member of the Friday Afternoon Club, a Catholic women’s service organization. After the market closed, Barbara worked for several years at Sullivan, Garrity, & Donnelly Insurance and, when she retired from there, she continued working by helping a dear family friend with accounting for his property development business through 2020.
Barbara was lovingly married to Nick for 62 years until his passing in 2017. Together, they raised their three children in West Boylston, traveled extensively in retirement with the Greendale Retired Men’s Club, and supported many charities in the Worcester area. She was a devoted parishioner of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, West Boylston.
Barbara was known for her sharp mind, quick wit, and steadfast belief in what was right. You never doubted for a moment where Barbara stood on issues or people. She relished a challenger in cribbage or Scrabble and usually won handily. She loved her family, and she loved to laugh. She was beautiful inside and out, a proud and elegant lady to the very end.
The Argento family is grateful to the staff at the Notre Dame du Lac Assisted Living and Hospice for their skilled and compassionate care, the lovely staff at Accessible Home Health of Central Massachusetts, Tracy Ramos NP, and to Barbara’s long-time physician, Dr. Dennis Murphy at Grove Medical.
Barbara leaves her three children whom she cherished: Paula of Washington, DC, Nicholas Jr. of Westborough, MA, and Maria and her husband Walter Perkins of Cotuit, MA. She leaves her sisters whom she loved dearly: Kathleen Kelleher and Sister Paula Kelleher SSJ, both of Worcester. She was predeceased by her beloved brother, PFC John D. Kelleher USA, who was killed early during the Korean War. She also leaves many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Friends and family are invited to gather to celebrate Barbara’s life, on Monday, December 2nd from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster Street, Worcester. A funeral will be held Tuesday, December 3rd with a Mass in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church,111 Worcester Street, West Boylston, MA at 11:00 AM. Burial will follow in St. John’s Cemetery, Worcester in the Argento family plot.
In lieu of flowers, memorial remembrances in Barbara’s name may be made to the St. John’s Food for the Poor, 44 Temple Street, Worcester, MA 01604.
https://www.stjohnsfoodforthepoor.org/donations
